MOST STUDENTS WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR STUDIES AND ATTAIN THEIR DEGREES

By Subry Govender While groups of university students in South Africa continue their robust protests in support of “free tertiary education”, the vast majority of their compatriots it seems are strongly against the violence, burnings and arson that have accompanied the protests. They want to concentrate on their studies and attain their degrees so that they could play constructive roles in the socio-economic development of the country. This is the view I gathered when I interviewed university students in the coastal city of Durban on Monday, September 26. I had approached the students after some students went on the rampage at the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal on the weekend of September 24 and 25. In this instance, the students set alight a student residence at the campus and caused other damage. These incidents follow the burning down of a library and a number of cars at the Durban campus of the same university recently. Students also went on the rampage at the University of Zululand, near the town of Empangeni, setting alight a number of vehicles and burning tyres. Similar incidents took place at the University of Johannesburg, Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, University of Mpumulanga and the University of Limpopo – north of Pretoria. These universities suspended their academic activities after the violent actions of the students. The University of Johannesburg was also engulfed by protesting students who wanted to disrupt a university function. The University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and the University of Cape Town had also shut down indefinitely following violent protests. Later on Wednesday, September 28, the University of Rhodes in the Eastern Cape region of the country was also affected with students openly clashing with security guards and members of the police. Ordinary rank and file students, I had spoken to, while supporting the call for free tertiary education, had expressed their total rejection of all forms of violence.

(Mr Ganosiswe Ndwande) One of the students, Mr Ganosiswe Ndwande, told me he suspected that most of the incidents were being instigated by a third force. “These student protests in our country I believe are being funded by people who want to see chaos and instability,” he said. “We want to go to free education but not in this way.”

(Ms Nozi Majola) A sociology student, Ms Nozi Majola, said “free education” was not the solution for the development of South African society. ‘The violence is not right,” she said. “I can see where the students are coming from but I don’t think free education will do good for us. “Free education will only decrease the quality of our education.”

(Mr Kheta Mbili) Mr Kheta Mbili is a Bachelor of Commerce and Accounting student who is also concerned about the violence and the demands for free education. “The violence is out of order. One has to understand that free education is not an easy thing to achieve.”

(Miss Lindele Mchunu) Miss Lindele Mchunu is a student who wants to achieve her qualifications as soon as possible. She told me it was very sad to see what was happening around the country. “You cannot destroy what you already have just because you want something new,” she said. “Actually examinations are around the corner, so we cannot go around and waste our valuable time. The reason why we are at university is because we want to grow and obtain our degrees.” While these students appeared to represent the majority of the student population in South Africa, there are also those who believe that the protests will attract the attention of the Government.

(Mr Senzo Mbongwa) Mr Senzo Mbongwa is one such student who supports the protests. “I am opposed to the violence but the protests are necessary because the Government promised that the fees will be frozen. The protests must continue until both the students and the Government find common ground. The Government should play its role in ensuring that students don’t embark on these protests.” All the affected universities have stepped up their security with the introduction of private security guards and also the South African Police Service members.

(Winnie Madikizela-Mandela) The violent student protests have seen former struggle stalwarts such as Dr Barney Pityana, who worked with the late Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko in the 1970s, and Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who celebrated her 80th birthday on September 26, expressing their disquiet at the violence during the protests. They have called on the Jacob Zuma Government to resolve the problems without delay.

(Dr Barney Pityana) Dr Pityana, who is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa(UNISA), said “free education” was possible but South Africans must debate this “in a rational and intelligent manner”. “The problem is that because of fixed positions being adopted by the different role players, this makes engagement and dialogue clearly impossible and it becomes a power game. South Africans just can’t go on like that.” – (September 26 2016 – subrygovender@gmail.com)