Higher education & training minister Buti Manamela has condemned the violent student protests at Fort Hare University and demanded they stop immediately.
“What has happened at Fort Hare is not protest — it is criminal. It destroys opportunity, erodes confidence, and undermines the dreams of thousands of young people who look to education as their only chance for a better life.”
Manamela was briefing the media on Saturday to discuss the violent turn of events at the university.
Fort Hare, one of South Africa’s most historic higher education institutions, had to suspend its academic programme this week owing to the violence.
University management was caught off guard when students set six of the institution’s buildings alight. Some of them housed crucial artefacts and documents, including exam question papers and as-yet unfinalised research.
Students are angry about how Fort Hare’s management is governing the seat of learning after it announced the appointment of an interim student representative council (SRC) and made changes to the university constitution, which governs all students enrolled at the institution.
There has also been dissatisfaction with the university’s vice-chancellor, Sakhela Buhlungu. He has been accused of failing students, who have called for him to resign.
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Manamela said the government was working closely with the police, the Eastern Cape government and the university’s security service to ensure calm is restored.
He said the academic programme would resume next Monday.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure the academic programme resumes within the coming week … I’ve directed the university council and management to put in place all necessary measures to reopen the institution safely and allow teaching and learning to continue, including temporary online modalities where [these are] required.
“Students must be able to complete their studies in peace and safety. That is a non-negotiable. The university must ensure the academic year is not put in jeopardy.”
The university’s council is set to meet on Sunday and has been instructed by Manamela to discuss the student grievances, which include:
- the state of governance and leadership at the institution;
- the role and status of the SRC;
- the institutional culture of the university;
- concerns about the vice-chancellor’s contract; and
- the insourcing of workers.
Manamela said he would provide a more detailed report on the situation at the university after speaking to the ministerial team led by Professor Ahmed Bawa.
The team has been engaging with the institution’s students, staff and other stakeholders this week to find a permanent resolution to the crisis.
The minister concluded by appealing to students and the university’s management to find common ground and ensure the academic year is not lost.
TimesLIVE
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