Cost of University vandalism mounting with R1.2m in repair bill for 2020
The bill for repairs at higher education institutions is rising as more facilities are reporting damage to their property.
Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister, Blade Nzimande has condemned the vandalism of universities, saying the bill for repairs in 2020 came to R1.2 million.
Much of this repair work was linked to protest action at universities, according to Nzimande.
The bill is mounting though as recent damage to fire extinguishers and fire hoses at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology will cost R250 000 to repair, according to his Department.
The Central University of Technology (CUT) reported damage amounting to R1.4 million in repairs in 2020, while the Sefako Makgatho University reported a bill of R30 000 in the same period.
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The University of Johannesburg (UJ) reported costs of R202 826.30 while the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) reported a cost of R27 388 914.
“None of these acts and massive losses incurred could be justified or associated with any legitimate forms of protest and should be condemned unequivocally,” said Nzimande in a statement on Friday.
“The destruction of property is a criminal office and all those engaging in such acts must be apprehended by law enforcement agencies and face the full might of the law,” he added.
