Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande must take the lead in assisting vice-chancellors to resolve the student protests at university campuses‚ the Democratic Alliance says. The DA welcomed the visit by Deputy Minister of Higher Education‚ Mduduzi Manana‚ to the North West University’s (NWU) Mafikeng Campus following the escalation of tensions‚ allegedly by the EFF‚ resulting in the torching of university buildings on Wednesday night. But DA spokesperson on higher education and training Prof Belinda Bozzoli said that while this was a step in the right direction‚ the party remained disappointed that Nzimande himself had done little to reassure an anxious public that his main concern was with ensuring that the vital tasks of teaching‚ learning and research continued at the country’s universities.“Indeed‚ in spite of his issuing a statement on Wednesday‚ Minister Nzimande remains conspicuous by his absence on campuses and in the public eye‚” Bozzoli asserted.“I will thus request that the Minister be summoned before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education to present a plan detailing how he‚ together with the Vice-Chancellor concerned‚ Professor Kwadi‚ will make sure that students at NWU will be assisted with accommodation and academic support to ensure they complete their studies this year. The Ministry should provide funding as required to make this possible‚” she added. “I will also request that the Portfolio Committee conduct an oversight visit to all protest-hit universities‚ so that it may contribute to finding a lasting solution to these apparently intractable problems.” Bozzoli said that the DA supported the right of all groups to protest when there were legitimate complaints.“However‚ we condemn violent protest and vandalism‚ which run counter to the principles of democracy. We are particularly concerned that the violence on campuses nationwide is undermining the rights of other students to continue with their studies.”..