Round-up

1. There is no racism at the University of Johannesburg's Dromedaris residence, and a black student was nicknamed "charcoal" because he had sullied a piece of paper. This was the message from the house committee of the residence after an alleged racist attack took place there. A third-year student, Apiwe Fali, said some black students in the residence felt misrepresented because they did not feel there was a problem of racism. House committee chairperson Brett Claassens said there are political bodies in the university that seem to have an axe to grind with the residence and are pursuing an ulterior political motive.

2. Non-story alert: A Wigan-based artist is at the centre of a race row over a new sculpture. The work by Paulajaine Goodwin, which depicts a black clenched fist, was designed as a powerful statement about slavery. But the sculpture, part of a £15,000 project to improve Seymour Park in Trafford near Manchester, has been accused of having racist overtones and community chiefs asked that it be remodelled. Residents claimed the statue was a "black power salute" reminiscent of the gloved salute made by sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the podium at the Mexico Olympics in 1968. The sculpture has now been redesigned following the public outcry.