PAC comes out firing against police‚ minister‚ and in support of students
The Pan Africanist Congress has condemned the behaviour of the SAPS after police attacked students protesting outside Parliament on Wednesday. In a detailed statement issued on Thursday‚ the party said the SAPS was guilty of “hooligan behaviour”.“The SAPS has consistently showed misinterpretation of its role in the democratic society. It intentionally operates as if this country is still a police state of the apartheid era. Hence‚ the PAC finds the need to remind the SAPS that its mandate is to protect the constitution and citizens‚ it is not to disrupt social discourse‚” the party said.The PAC chastised the police for creating disorder by “overshadowing the genuine concerns of the public”.The party emphasised: “The SAPS must recognise that Parliament‚ its buildings‚ its members and its premises belong to citizens of the country‚ including the student population. Students have right to demand to engage Parliamentarians in their own Parliament.”The party also expressed support for the Fees Must Fall campaign‚ and said that its student wing‚ PASMA‚ was taking an active part in the campaign.It called for free education up to undergraduate level‚ which it said was “technically sound and financially feasible”.It called for postgraduate students to be paid a salary. “Knowledge-generating postgraduates are creating value - therefore they should receive a salary for their work during their studies as we live in the era of the knowledge economy.”It called for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to be abandoned immediately‚ to be replaced by “fully state-funded systems for all academically qualifying students without considering a financial means test of parents”.The party condemned Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande‚ saying he had clearly "taken management’s side" against the students. “He had been demanding that student should compromise themselves and their interest in favour of professional looters of university funds‚” it said‚ adding that President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet was in favour of Nzimande’s stance...
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.