A Day in the Life of the University of Pretoria. 28 August 1970

Posted on May 30, 2023

On this "Day in the life of the University of Pretoria" the student newspaper reported on compulsory military service.

Die Perdeby commented on the implementation of compulsory military service for all white males above the age of 18 and asked whether females also should be conscripted. According to an article entitled “Tukkie asters soos soldate” (Tukkies girls are like soldiers) life in the ladies' residences was a unique solution for the objections of the “mothers of the daughters of our nation who feel that compulsory military service would compromise their femininity”. The article explained that disguised as a residence, young girls can be subjected to the same military discipline. Furthermore, there was no need for moral standards as these were provided for the girls in the shape of draconian rules and regulations that governed every aspect of the female students’ lives and could even replace their mothers’ input.

The University of Pretoria Archives (UPA) preserves the history of the University of Pretoria. The UPA has an extensive photo collection and clipping collection. Please contact us on [email protected] to share your memories of Tukkies or to access our collection.

- Author Alida Green

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