STUDENTS CALL ON ANCESTORS’ GUIDANCE
Leaders appeal for violence and burning of facilities to end
PROTESTING University of KwaZulu-Natal students summoned ancestors yesterday to halt the burning of the institution’s facilities which they will need once their #FeesMustFall campaign is complete.
Following the mysterious burning of an examination hall at the university’s Pietermaritzburg campus last month, students burnt impepho (incense) and sprayed intelezi (herb mixture) outside provincial legislature yesterday.
Thousands of students marched 5km to the KwaZuluNatal legislature where they gathered outside its gates burning incense and spraying themselves with intelezi, calling on their ancestors to guide them during the campaign.
March organiser Thobeka Cele condemned the burning of buildings, saying the perpetrators need to be locked in jail.
“We are burning this incense not only to call our ancestors to assist us achieve free education, but also to call our fellow students to stop burning buildings. We are going to need those buildings after the strike,” she said.
Student Representative Council president Siphelele Nguse said: “We have advised students not to become violent and burn down buildings and other resources because we are going to need them later.”
Nguse accused the university management and the government of not paying attention to their concerns.
“We’re still going to boycott lectures just to make management and the government take us seriously because they have been giving us the cold shoulder for a long time,” he said.
“We have taken out all students with us, we have shut down the university.”
Students demanded free education and an end to police brutality.
“The main issue for us is the fees. We are calling for no fees so that we can afford to study‚” said Cele.
“Another concern is police brutality against students. We want to be able to voice our problems in peace.”
UKZN was forced to suspend its academic programme and bring forward its spring break two weeks ago after violent protests erupted at its Howard‚ Westville and Pietermaritzburg campuses.
Students returned to campus on Tuesday morning. They were carrying placards insulting Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande, written “Blade ms*n* kany*k*”.
Students presented their memorandum to the speaker of the legislature Lydia Johnson, detailing their concerns.
The examination hall at the Pietermaritzburg campus was burnt down last month while the law library at Howard College was torched almost two weeks ago.
University spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said the situation at the institution was tense.