Students from several universities protested at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last year. There is something perverse in taking pleasure from burning art works, the writer says. Picture: SOWETAN
Students from several universities protested at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last year. There is something perverse in taking pleasure from burning art works, the writer says. Picture: SOWETAN

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DAMAGES to higher education institutions during student protests have cost universities more than R145m, the Higher Education and Training department said.

The department said the estimated cost in damages was for the period from October 2015 until January 2016.

The most notable cost was at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with damage worth about R82m.

This was followed by the University of the Western Cape, with more than R46m worth of damages. Tshwane University of Technology had more than R5m worth of damages.

The least affected universities were Rhodes University, with R250,000, Walter Sisulu University, with R351,287, and the University of Johannesburg with R345,000.

The department said a more detailed assessment on the costs of damage in 2016 was being done.

Criminal acts

It said Minister Blade Nzimande insisted that while protests were a democratic right, resorting to violence and damage to property were criminal acts.

"It is in light of these, that the minister has met Police Minister Nathi Nhleko to agree on stronger deployment of police into universities where protests are reported to protect universities’ property, the staff and students from protesters," it said.

The department said it urged students to stand up and denounce these acts.

"We are calling for parents, faith-based organisations and society at large to condemn this new phenomenon of criminal behaviour," it said.

Students have been protesting under several banners including #FeesMustFall, #RhodesMustFall and #OutSourcingMustFall since October last year.

Several university buildings, including the North West University administration building, were set alight during the protests. Scores of student protesters were also arrested during clashes with police.

News24