Protests should not lead to violence, destruction and crime

US musician Gerard Way once said: “Say what you want but never say it with violence!”

In the wake of violent protests by the Tshwane University of Technology students at the Soshanguve campus, let me highlight something.

Everyone has a right to demonstrate and the right to quality service delivery, but I condemn the idea that protests should be violent. How do we justify a situation where protesters burn tyres on the roads and disturb traffic, all in the name of showing anger?

How do we explain students burning exam halls and security guard vehicles as a way of showing their frustration?

This evil behaviour stretches beyond university gates because the same thing happens during community protests.

Question is: if you decide to burn the schools, police stations, libraries and clinics in your own community who ends up on the losing side?

Truth is: if people embark on violent protests, attention is shifted from addressing their grievances to making a follow-up on the crimes they committed trying to raise these grievances.

Their problems therefore remain unresolved.

People should realise protesting does not mean vandalism. You cannot solve a problem by creating another one.

Protests are inspired by the need for a solution, not by imprisonment, injury or destruction. We can do better. Malphia Honwane

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