Universities need peace

NOW, MORE than ever in the course of #FeesMustFall protests, is the time for calm and reason to prevail. We cannot have another week in which attitudes of student protesters and universities harden with such tragic consequences. More than 500 student leaders have been arrested, with many suspended and interdicted from their universities.

Last week, Wits student leader Shaeera Kalla was among those injured when police fired rubber bullets at protesters and Pretoria student leader Benjamin Phehla died after being struck by a car during protests in Soshanguve.

Today, students are expected to march on Parliament, where Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is expected to unveil his medium-term budget. The government’s response to #FeesMustFall movement will undoubtedly be addressed.

It is hoped students conduct themselves with dignity and decorum.

This weekend, the vice-chancellors of South Africa’s 26 public universities expressed their concern at the situation, making an impassioned call to bring a halt to violent protests and prevent a total shutdown of this academic year. Across the country, staff and students have been seeking innovative ways to do final course work and prepare for exams despite the turmoil, such as meeting off-campus and working online.

But, in their letter, the vice-chancellors explain the dire consequences if the impasse cannot be overcome, including delaying the entry of more than 180 000 graduates – including 1 500 medical doctors into the workplace and postponing the entry of incoming matrics into university.

IT IS time for everyone to take a step back and refocus on finding a solution to what is accepted as a real concern: the high cost of tertiary education and the exclusion this means for many young South Africans.

University leadership and the government have agreed to work towards a solution, but clearly this cannot be achieved in a hostile environment marked by distrust and violence.

The solution lies away from the populist rhetoric, burning of books, stone throwing, arson and rubber bullets.