Varsity vows to get tough
THE vice-chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Albert van Jaarsveld, said yesterday that the students responsible for violence and damage at the Westville campus would be dealt with harshly.
“A full investigation into the acts of misconduct and violence is under way. Video footage and photographs taken will form part of the investigation. All perpetrators will face the full might of the university’s disciplinary codes and, where necessary, the law.
The costs had not been finalised, as insurance assessors had just carried out an assessment.
Van Jaarsveld said they were engaging with bodies representing the students internally, as well as with external organisations at provincial level.
There remained a strong police and private security presence at the Westville campus yesterday.
Upping the minimum average mark required from students to qualify for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and planning to increase a registration fee were the two main issues which triggered the violent protest at the Westville campus.
Van Jaarsveld confirmed that the university had revised an average mark students had to attain. He also confirmed that the university was planning to increase a registration fee, which was paid as a deposit at the beginning of each semester for semester students, and the start of the year for annual students. Previously, students had to have a 50% mark, but the institution had upped it to 70%. The registration fee was R3 500 and they had planned to increase it to R5 000.
The university’s chief financial officer, Bulelani Mahlangu, said requiring 70% from students was meant to encourage academic excellence. He said there were students who worked hard and attained good marks but were “unfortunately” excluded from programmes because they could not afford tuition fees and they would not have been awarded financial aid.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme allocated bulk funding to the institution and the university would administer and allocate this to students.
“The funding is very limited and a decision was taken. We considered that 70% is a reasonable attempt by the students.
Van Jaarsveld claimed the university’s registration fee was by far the lowest compared with other universities in the country. He said this was not an overnight decision but had been communicated with various stakeholders.
Yesterday, protests spread to Pietermaritzburg and to the Howard College Campus.
Last night, the university said all academic programmes on all campuses had been suspended.
Police spokesman Jay Naicker said two suspects, aged 21 and 24, had been arrested in connection with the damage at the Westville campus.
“The two will appear tomorrow (today) in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. Westville police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property and public violence,” he said.
AFTER reading Carvin Goldstone’s article “A tide that must be turned” (The Mercury, September 15), I understand his concerns regarding the violence and antisocial antics within our communities.
This type of behaviour is not only rife in the coloured community – it effects all communities in South Africa.
However, I must concede that his experiences as a child, teenager and now adult have given him more than enough authority to comment on and describe the “gung-ho” attitude for survival within his community, be it in the classroom, playgrounds, nightclubs and society in general.
I admire his approach as a comedian and journalist in giving back to his community by raising concerns were they are needed most.
In my opinion, this kind of problem does not only exist KZN. Just look at the gang, turf and drug wars in communities in the Western Cape, particularly the Cape flats, the Eastern Cape and Eldorado Park, just to name a few.
Schools in these areas are a no-go zone for pupils as they are intimidated by gangsters to join gangs that have violent initiations such as rape, robbery, stabbings and shootings. It used to be more in the high schools, but now this type of behaviour is common in primary schools, where 10-year-olds are stabbing each other.
Religious organisations are trying their level best to help by counselling youngsters to concentrate on studies and stay away from gangs, but this is not enough.
Over many years the coloured community has had so much to offer in terms of sport, with so many role models for the youth to look up to. Many coloured sportsmen have represented South Africa at the highest level – for example, in rugby, the likes of Elton Jantjies, Gio Aplon, Juan de Jong, Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Waylon Murry, Ashwin Willemse, Chester Williams and Deon Kayser.
In cricket there are Vernon Philander, Alviro Peterson, Charl Langeveldt, Robin Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Herschelle Gibbs, Paul Adams and Omar Henry. In soccer, Andre Arendse, Bradley August, Brendan Augustine, Shaun Bartlett, Delron Buckley, Duncan Crowie, Kermit Erasmus, Quinton Fortune, David Kannemeyer, Steven Pienaar and Mark Williams.
The list goes on and on if one has to add other sporting codes.
It would be great for schools to partner with the different sporting unions to create a community outreach programme from which the youth could benefit, and this would probably have a snowball or domino effect that would be carried on for generations.
This system could be implement- ed in all communities, and maybe it would help us get rid of gangsterism, drugs and other forms of antisocial behaviour for good. MERVYN PILLAY
Durban