Madikizela-Mandela: Free education was an impossible promise
ANC stalwart Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela on Thursday said the ANC promised free education in the past
due to a lack of experience in government.
Speaking at her former home in Orlando, Soweto, Madikizela-Mandela said the ruling party needs to revisit the Freedom Charter.
"The Freedom Charter was drafted in 1955 and at the time we were thirsty for freedom and had no experience of governing the country. We realised that the free education we promised was not going to be easy," she said.
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She expressed dismay at the fact that students had to take to streets again to demand free education.
"Government should have tried to meet the students halfway. We knew that the students were not fighting for no increases, they were fighting for free education. The state must find a way of resolving the situation," she said.
Madikizela Mandela also condemned the destruction of property and escalating violence at institutions of higher learning across the country.