Cape Town - A Stellenbosch University (SU) medical student and qualified paramedic is being investigated by the University’s Equality Unit after he used his X account to allegedly incite violence and make genocidal remarks on Palestinians by apparently calling for a nuclear weapon to remove them from Gaza.
Barry Barling who uses the X handle @barrybarling, has since made his profile private and locked it following the outrage by South Africans and wider Pro-Palestinian organisations.
Barling identifies himself as a Medical Student. Entrepreneur. Emergency Medicine Enthusiast. App Dev. Party Liaison. Paramedic. Adrenalin Addict. Hero. Friend. Eternal Student. Impressario, as written on his profile.
Barling is a medical student at the SU. His Facebook account has also not recently been updated.
It has yet to be confirmed whether he was also reported to the Health Professionals Council (HPCSA).
Late last night, Barling said: “The screenshots that are circulating were replies in threads and are missing other posts which give important context... I am unable to comment further due to ongoing proceedings.”
Priscilla Sekhonyana, of the HPCSA, said they were preparing a response.
The SA Health Workers for Palestine (HCW4P) said they were made aware of the remarks and that it was reported to the university and the HPCSA. The SA Jewish Board (SAJB) has also condemned the remarks.
In a response to Weekend Argus, SU confirmed that a fully-fledged inquiry had been opened. “SU took note of the student’s social media comments.
“In accordance with the relevant protocol, the matter was referred to the university’s Equality Unit who is conducting a preliminary assessment and obtaining statements.
“The university recognises the severity and far-reaching impact of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.
“It also acknowledges that this humanitarian crisis has a devastating impact in the region as well as globally and the university has repeatedly expressed its sympathy for all those affected.“
Stop Arab Hate, via their X account were one of the first to raise the flag on his alleged remarks made earlier this month and their post was shared 2.8k times, with 276 comments and 5.7k likes.
In some, he is allegedly quoted as saying: “Can’t there be a nuclear meltdown in the Gaza strip so the land is uninhabitable? Then the ‘Palestinians’ will have to go somewhere else.”
“You want to see genocide and ethnic cleansing, I’m sure I can chat to Bibi to give you what you have been saying all along, cos what is happening in Gaza is definitely not genocide nor ethnic cleansing. But wait … that will never happen, because to Jews life is sacred.”
Chairperson of HCW4P SA, Saadiq Moolla said: “The comments allegedly made by Barling are dangerous and highly inappropriate for someone in the healthcare field, raising serious red flags about his practise and training.
“We are aware that the matter has been reported to the relevant bodies at Stellenbosch University and the HPCSA, and trust that they will handle it with the urgency and importance that it deserves.
“The people of Palestine have for decades been victim to colonisation, oppression and now genocide at the hands of Zionists and these violent and thoughtless comments contribute to the problem. This is completely at odds with the values healthcare workers aim to embody.”
Professor Usuf Chikte, co-ordinator, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said the incident had unmasked a sickening reality in the corridors of the university where racism and Islamophobia were allegedly present.
“These genocidal statements from Stellenbosch University students in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is hardly shocking and surprising. It is part and parcel of their institutional culture.
“The Senate and leadership at Stellenbosch University have green lighted the genocide by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, the pogroms in the West Bank and the practice of apartheid from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean Sea which has fuelled such racist actions.
“This has emboldened and unmasked the supremacist, racist, misogynistic and Islamophobic forces at the faculty and university to act with a sense of impunity.
“We call for a swift investigation into the matter by SU and the HPCSA,” Chikte said.
“We call on Stellenbosch to take measures to eradicate deep rooted apartheid culture and for the Senate to rescind its recent genocidal, apartheid supporting anti-Palestinianism which fuels such supremacist actions by staff and students.
“We also call for a comprehensive motion to boycott all Israeli institutions complicit in human rights abuses.”
Daniel Bloch Executive Director Cape SAJBD said they stood against racial slurs and derogatory speech and called on the necessary action to be followed.
“Regardless of one’s views, opinions or beliefs, hate speech and discrimination cannot be justified, neither should it be tolerated in any form. We condemn all forms of hatred and discrimination,” he said.
“We trust that the University of Stellenbosch will deal with this matter according to their processes and regulations.
“We hope that the offender and any future offenders will understand the consequences of their actions and learn from these situations.
“The current climate is tense, emotions are high and all sides of this conflict should use caution when speaking out. Words do matter.”
Wisani Baloyi of The South African Human Rights Commission told Weekend Argus that their Provincial Manager was contacted to respond to the claims of hate speech but did not give comment by the time of deadline.
This year, the University was also brought under the spotlight and into the media light following the on-going controversy involving Wilgenhof residence.
Last month the Alumni welcomed the university’s decision to open written submissions on the future of the residency after consideration was placed on the table by the Panel appointed to investigate the matter, to possibly close its doors by the end of the year.
Submissions is expected to close at the end of July.
This follows social media’s and the media’s exposure of the initiation ‘chamber of horrors’ at the 120-year-old male residence of Wilgenhof.
Shocking images showed that of Ku Klux Klan-like hoods, and drawings of men involved in violent sexual acts and former students also shared their horror stories with the media.