Halt violent protests
THE words of Nelson Mandela on the value of education fell on deaf ears this week as more than 200 students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal continued their week-long, illegal, violent protest against financial aid, draft loans, bursary policy and funding for postgraduate students.
In our constitution it is enshrined that all South Africans have a right to education. But those committed to their studies were denied this right as protesting students disrupted lectures, stoned vehicles and damaged university property.
All of us have freedom of expression and the right to protest. These are rights leaders like Madiba fought for. But freedom of expression and the right to protest must not be abused in order to justify anarchy.
In South Africa it appears that the culture of violence has become an accepted means of resolving problems. But is the perpetration of violence the solution to any problem? We don’t think so. On the contrary, in most cases resorting to violence is a sign of weakness.
The university authorities sought an urgent court interdict against the rampaging students. But their criminal acts of damaging university property and preventing students from attending lectures should not go unpunished.
IT should be condemned in the strongest terms. Last month, students at the Mangosuthu University of Technology set fire to a women’s residence, causing more than R90 000 damage. In July, students at Medunsa set a car alight.
At the time, the parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education condemned violent protests at universities across the country. Committee chairperson Yvonne Phosa said the continued violent demonstrations and acts of intimidation could not go on unabated. The Ministry of Higher Education and Training was asked to intervene as a matter of urgency.
But some students remain undeterred. They either fail or simply refuse to accept they’re damaging their cause.
Almost two months after Phosa made the statement, protests at UKZN continue to escalate. Are these our future leaders? Sadly, it’s a small group of irresponsible students who abhor peaceful negotiations who hijack higher learning from those committed to acquiring degrees and developing a career.
It is time to stop treating violent protest action with kid gloves.