North West University students throw stones at police officers during a protest in October last year. Picture: SOWETAN
North West University students throw stones at police officers during a protest in October last year. Picture: SOWETAN

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THE burning of the science centre and the administration building at the campus has been widely condemned by various parties.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemned the violence at North West University’s (NWU) Mafikeng campus on Wednesday night‚ saying violence was not an acceptable form of protest in a democracy.

The violence is believed to have begun after Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) members and aligned students disrupted the inauguration of a newly appointed student representative council (SRC) on the campus‚ the party said.

"While the DA supports the right of all groups to protest when there are legitimate complaints‚ violence and vandalism must be condemned in the strongest manner possible. Violence is not an acceptable form of protest in a democracy‚ particularly when it undermines the rights of other students to continue their studies‚" said DA national spokesperson Phumzile van Damme.

She noted that NWU had had to shut its doors and send students home which had serious implication for their studies.

"Of greater concern is that many students that are reliant on campus residences do not have the resources to return home and at present there is little certainty about where they will sleep tonight (Wednesday night)‚" Ms Van Damme said.

"We call on (EFF leader) Julius Malema to immediately instruct EFFSC members to end violent action and the incitement of violence. Malema and other EFF leaders must also desist from using social media to incite violence at NWU. In a series of tweets from the EFF’s official account yesterday (Tuesday)‚ the EFF is clearly fanning the flames of violence‚ intolerance and destruction at NWU.

"This is unacceptable‚ and may even be criminal. Burning down buildings and inciting violence will not deal with the democratic processes of electing an SRC but has instead robbed thousands of students the opportunity to complete the academic year‚" Ms Van Damme said. "We also call on all radical and extremist movements‚ including the fringe-group ‘Front National’ at Tukkies‚ to refrain from fanning the flames of violence and destruction — and ultimately preventing students from accessing their right to education."Twenty-two years after the end of apartheid — students are still being mobilised along racial lines by radical groups. In a time of economic hardship and job losses‚ all political parties should be focused on finding ways to work together for the good of every South African."Now‚ more than ever‚ leadership is necessary to ensure that the situation does not escalate to the point where life is lost‚" she said.

SACP ‘extremely disappointed’

The South African Communist Party (SACP) also added its voice to a growing chorus of condemnation of the violence and destruction of property at NWU on Wednesday night.

The SACP said it was extremely disappointed and condemned in the strongest terms possible the destruction of property along with official records which it said was estimated to run into millions of rand.

"More money will now be needed to continue developing the campus — including possibilities of diverting money from other priorities — taking into consideration the new costs imposed by the destruction.

"Destruction of public property is not progressive. It is worse off especially in a developing democratic society that needs more resource capacity to meet its priorities. Destruction of public property is therefore not revolutionary but counterproductive‚ and must be condemned in the strongest terms possible‚ by society as a whole‚ as a legally punishable criminal conduct‚" the SACP said.

The party said the police must investigate the violence and get to the bottom of what happened.

"All those who will be found responsible‚ and in all respects‚ must be held accountable through the criminal justice system. The law must take its cause. The police must stop being slowly reactive but must act proactively within the ambit of the law.

"The NWU institutional management and council must conduct their own investigations into what happened and take corrective steps. The students must isolate and distance themselves from destructive elements."

The party said the Mafikeng campus of the NWU was the poorest of the university’s main campuses.

"The destruction constitutes the single largest reversal of the gains the campus has made since our country’s 1994 democratic breakthrough. The damage will only serve to perpetuate the inequalities that‚ as a democratic people‚ we have been fighting against throughout the history of our struggle against colonial national oppression and apartheid.

"The science centre at the Mafikeng campus was used to conduct about 40 scientific experiments benefiting school learners to encourage them to study science. The campus is now closed‚ until further notice‚ and students’ academic time will be wasted. This will further contribute to both short- and long-term inequalities‚ with the historically disadvantaged students served by the Mafikeng Campus suffering the most‚" the SACP said.

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