THE Department of Higher Education and Training said on Tuesday the acts of violence at universities, especially the University of Pretoria (UP) and the University of the Free State (UFS), show that there are fringe elements seeking to destabilise institutions as part of a "perverse political agenda".
Violent protests and clashes have erupted at UP and the UFS in recent days. The clashes are said to have been prompted by differences in language policy and employment conditions. The start of the academic year at the University of Cape Town (UCT) was also disrupted last week after some students protested over the shortage of accommodation.
Department of Higher Education and Training spokesman Khaye Nkwanyana said on Wednesday the department condemned the violent protest action.
"The disruptions at the University of the Free State and University of Pretoria, as well as the violence at the University of Cape Town last week, clearly show that there are fringe elements seeking to destabilise our institutions as part of a perverse political agenda and attempting to dislodge legitimately elected student, worker and staff structures through illegal activity, violence and destruction of property.
"These fringe elements seem hell bent to exploit every problem as part of seeking to hijack legitimate student concerns for their narrow ends," said Mr Nkwanyana.
He said the department was urging university management to engage with legitimately and democratically elected structures and not be held to ransom by elements that have no official mandate.
"The department calls upon the management of universities to take decisive action against those elements that are bent on using any excuse to turn our institutions into sites of violence and vandalism. The department cannot and will not tolerate the destruction of property and threat to lives and requests the South African Police Services to assist with the safeguarding of students, staff, workers and university property.
"We need to intensify the struggle against racism, but at the same time condemn the short-sighted antiwhite chauvinism rearing its ugly head on some campuses, as ours is a struggle to build transformed and nonracial universities and South African society," said Mr Nkwanyana.
UFS on Monday announced that it was suspending academic activities. Students had apparently gone on the rampage and vandalised two men’s hostels. Unconfirmed allegations were that white students were being assaulted on campus.
This comes after a video, reportedly taken on campus on Monday afternoon, showed rugby players and supporters assaulting a group of protesters who had gone on to the field, disrupting the FNB Varsity Cup rugby match.
Classes at UP were also suspended on Tuesday. The university has reportedly proposed that all its lectures be offered in English only following days of violent clashes between AfriForum Youth and the Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF’s) Student Command.
Political parties across the spectrum on Tuesday condemned the violent protests and clashes. The African National Congress expressed outrage at what it is said were signs of deteriorating race relations and tensions at universities.
The Democratic Alliance called for calm.
"We are mindful that incidents of violence threaten the credibility of the legitimate plight of students who have real concerns about higher education," DA Student Organisation interim leader and MP Yusuf Cassim said.
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi condemned the attacks at UFS during the rugby match.
He said: "The reality is that had it been white students who were protesting, the reaction was going to be different. Violence would have not been preferred on an unarmed and peaceful protest that was seeking to raise the plight of outsourced workers at UFS. White mob violence was preferred precisely because white people collectively held a view that this is the only way to address black people on picket lines, as their apartheid government did."
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Students protest outside Bremner Building at the University of Cape Town on Monday. Picture: TREVOR SAMSON
THE Department of Higher Education and Training said on Tuesday the acts of violence at universities, especially the University of Pretoria (UP) and the University of the Free State (UFS), show that there are fringe elements seeking to destabilise institutions as part of a "perverse political agenda".
Violent protests and clashes have erupted at UP and the UFS in recent days. The clashes are said to have been prompted by differences in language policy and employment conditions. The start of the academic year at the University of Cape Town (UCT) was also disrupted last week after some students protested over the shortage of accommodation.
Department of Higher Education and Training spokesman Khaye Nkwanyana said on Wednesday the department condemned the violent protest action.
"The disruptions at the University of the Free State and University of Pretoria, as well as the violence at the University of Cape Town last week, clearly show that there are fringe elements seeking to destabilise our institutions as part of a perverse political agenda and attempting to dislodge legitimately elected student, worker and staff structures through illegal activity, violence and destruction of property.
"These fringe elements seem hell bent to exploit every problem as part of seeking to hijack legitimate student concerns for their narrow ends," said Mr Nkwanyana.
He said the department was urging university management to engage with legitimately and democratically elected structures and not be held to ransom by elements that have no official mandate.
"The department calls upon the management of universities to take decisive action against those elements that are bent on using any excuse to turn our institutions into sites of violence and vandalism. The department cannot and will not tolerate the destruction of property and threat to lives and requests the South African Police Services to assist with the safeguarding of students, staff, workers and university property.
"We need to intensify the struggle against racism, but at the same time condemn the short-sighted antiwhite chauvinism rearing its ugly head on some campuses, as ours is a struggle to build transformed and nonracial universities and South African society," said Mr Nkwanyana.
UFS on Monday announced that it was suspending academic activities. Students had apparently gone on the rampage and vandalised two men’s hostels. Unconfirmed allegations were that white students were being assaulted on campus.
This comes after a video, reportedly taken on campus on Monday afternoon, showed rugby players and supporters assaulting a group of protesters who had gone on to the field, disrupting the FNB Varsity Cup rugby match.
Classes at UP were also suspended on Tuesday. The university has reportedly proposed that all its lectures be offered in English only following days of violent clashes between AfriForum Youth and the Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF’s) Student Command.
Political parties across the spectrum on Tuesday condemned the violent protests and clashes. The African National Congress expressed outrage at what it is said were signs of deteriorating race relations and tensions at universities.
The Democratic Alliance called for calm.
"We are mindful that incidents of violence threaten the credibility of the legitimate plight of students who have real concerns about higher education," DA Student Organisation interim leader and MP Yusuf Cassim said.
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi condemned the attacks at UFS during the rugby match.
He said: "The reality is that had it been white students who were protesting, the reaction was going to be different. Violence would have not been preferred on an unarmed and peaceful protest that was seeking to raise the plight of outsourced workers at UFS. White mob violence was preferred precisely because white people collectively held a view that this is the only way to address black people on picket lines, as their apartheid government did."
With News24
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