Professor Srila Roy, the Head of the Sociology Department at the University of the Witwatersrand, has officially resigned following a significant public outcry over remarks deemed “racist” and “xenophobic.”
The controversy erupted after Professor Roy posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), claiming that South Africans possess “little ambition” and are “complacent” with a “poor work ethic.” The post was reportedly a reaction to a parliamentary discussion regarding the percentage of foreign nationals within South African academia.
While Roy later deleted the post and issued an apology—claiming her words were a “hasty pushback” against xenophobic sentiments—the response from the academic community was swift and severe. The Wits Department of Sociology, the South African Sociological Association (SASA), and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education all condemned the remarks, stating they undermined the dignity of South Africans and violated the core values of the institution.
Despite her resignation, the university has indicated that formal disciplinary processes and investigations into the matter are continuing.
