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Violent protests must fall
Let me declare first that I fully support the calls for free education. I understand the stress of not having upfront registration fee. I understand the pain of not getting your results because of owing the University. I have been through that during my university life. Tertiary education can be such a pain for students who come from disadvantaged families. You are never sure if you are coming back the following year.
Looking at the manner in which government is now supporting students from poor families, so much has changed compared to 10 years ago. There is still of course a long way to go, but we much acknowledge that so much has been done. Free education cannot happen overnight. NSFAS use not fund less, but now it fund almost 100% and for students who do well in their final year the loan is converted into bursary.
Recent pronouncement by Minister of Education not to increase fees for students who are coming from poor families is progressive. It shows how serious is government taking this matter. However the protest that broke out in number of campuses should be condemned with the strongest terms. Ours it’s a constitutional democracy. There are many avenues that can be explored without damaging property. Why destroy historic libraries? It’s an act of cowardice, not willing to engage in intellectual debates. The vandalism of property defeat the genuine cause students are fighting for.
Students should guard against third forces that seek to high-jack their struggle for cheap political gains. The focus now should be on ensuring that academic programmes continues unhindered whilst negotiations happens behind the scenes. Students who completed their studies through NSFAS loan and are not paying back the money are failing the next generation. NSFAS should fast track all defaulters of NSFAS who are working. Why refuse to pay back the interest free loan when you did receive your degree and you are now working.
Students with rich parents should pay for university fees. A year ago, the former Wits SRC President Mcebo Dlamini ran a campaign that managed to raised more than R1 million for student tuition through donations. Why are we not using our minds to come up with creative ways of funding Tertiary Education, instead of burning these institutions?
Violent protest must fall. They are not taking us anywhere. They are just taking us back. Watching the students at Wits throwing stones to securities and police, showed that some of the students just don’t have any regard for the rule of law. Anarchy and mayhem never solved any problem. Only when we cool our heads we will be able to find lasting solutions to education challenges.
Themba Thobela
Twitter: TmanMjaji
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