Police bemoan passive varsities
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has bemoaned the lack of co-operation from universities during the #FeesMustFall protests that were characterised by violence, arson and damage to property amounting to millions of rand.
In 2016, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande estimated that the cost of property damage at universities was well over R600m, beginning with the 2015 protests.
On Tuesday, SAPS officials briefed MPs on university security during a joint meeting of the police committee and the portfolio committee on higher education and training.
SAPS officials said that even though they had set aside significant resources to maintain law and order on campuses, some institutions failed to cooperate fully, which frustrated the work of the police.
Late in 2016, the Gauteng provincial government disclosed that the SAPS had paid its officers more than R3m for overtime work at universities in the province since the start of the #FeesMustFall protests.
The SAPS’s Brig Faizel Ally told MPs that student protests were accompanied by violence including assaults, intimidation, arson and damage to property.
In addition, major political parties appeared to be “more active in trying to exert control over their students”, Ally said.
Some role players were reluctant to co-operate fully with the SAPS in jointly ensuring safety and security, said Ally.
“Institutions adopt a different approach in order to ensure minimum conflict with the student population, [such as] withdrawing cases.
“Also, institutions prefer to distance themselves from criminal investigations against the students, which has impacted negatively on the SAPS’s ability to present quality case dockets for prosecution,” said Ally.
The SAPS said total commitment, dedication and support from all affected departments and an emphasis on mass communication regarding government responsibilities would be crucial in maintaining law and order should protests erupt on campuses in future.
Officials from the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority told MPs that private security service providers must receive training to protect people and property in an environment in which demonstrations and protests were taking place.
The authority permitted the use only of less lethal equipment and prohibited equipment that could place lives at risk.
Meetings on the role of the private security industry have been held with Universities SA and the Technical and Vocational Education Training Colleges Governors’ Council.
There are fears that protests might flare up in 2017. Protesting students want the government to provide free higher education and a commission of inquiry looking into the feasibility of free higher education is due to release its report in June.