UCT to reopen

In the message Pityana says the "doors of learning shall be open to all as proclaimed in the Freedom Charter."

"Of course the doors of learning shall be open to all, so proclaimed the Freedom Charter. Our Bill of Rights and the Constitution has endorsed this call, for it is in that document where the rights to education it is now a justifiable socioeconomic right. That we should be at each other's throats for the realisation of this right 22 years on, since a free South Africa was established, is a terrible indictment on our public policy. I applaud our youth, and students in particular, for reminding us and reminding society in general that our constitutional promise cannot be negotiated away. A promise made is a promise kept, and that should be our mantra", he said in the audio message.

This comes after a week of violent protest at universities across South Africa. In a poll at Wits, more than 70 percent of students said they wanted classes to resume.

Pityana also said that protesting students should allow all parties to work together in finding a solution to the issue at hand.

"The violence that we have seen accompanying the contestation for free education has caused great trauma, distress and division in a community that is united in the objective of ensuring a successful education project. Unlike in the past, no one should risk not completing their education in order to be heard or realise a just and noble cause, as we are talking about. No one should risk criminalisation by engaging in acts of arson, damage to property and violence in exchanges with each other," he said.