THE row over University of the Free State rector, Professor Jonathan Jansen has entered the “sub-radar” phase of its life, which is a good thing.
Like all South African controversies, it has enjoyed — or endured, depending on how you see it — four basic phases.
The first was the “pre-radar” phase during which Jansen talked to representatives of the university workers and the students accused of racism, tried to understand the root causes and put together a plan of action relatively free of political noise.
Then it entered it’s second, more volatile period, the “sensation phase”. During this phase, news broke of Jansen’s decision to pardon the students behind the race video and all hell broke loose as politicians, unions and commentators desperately tried to find some way of making political capital out of the issue.
During this phase, Jansen was pilloried, characterised as a racist in cartoons and treated with the same contempt reserved for those who poison Labrador puppies.
Many who had said one thing during the pre-radar phase found it convenient to now say completely the opposite.
Then came the third “life-goes-on phase” as those who had shouted themselves hoarse realised that despite their best efforts, Jansen was still rector, there was still an unresolved race issue on the campus and their posturing was starting to look a little over-the-top.
During this phase, the shouting was toned down notch by notch and eventually became part of the general background noise of shouting which is a permanent feature of South African life.
Now we are finally, thankfully, in the “sub-radar” phase where Jansen is getting on with his very difficult task and the shouters are shouting about something else. Good luck, Prof.

Related posts:

1. The way has been cleared for Jansen to tackle university racism
2. Now Malema backs Jansen … but for how long?
3. Youth League statement on Jansen – full text
4. Jonathan Jansen’s inaugural speech as Vice Chancellor of UFS – full text
5. Mary Metcalfe’s letter to Jonathan Jansen – full text