Moseneke advises students to direct protests towards government
The call for free, decolonised higher education is a good, sound legal argument that is not at all at odds with South Africa's constitution, but in line with it.
This according to former deputy Chief Justice and Wits Chancellor Dikgang Moseneke.
He delivered the 2016 Unisa Founders Lecture in Pretoria last night.
The former deputy Chief Justice says universities are soft targets for protests and advised students should to rather direct their protests towards the state.
However, Moseneke warned students to desist from using violence or risk delegitimising the call.
"The violence that has reared its head during or connected to demands that fees must fall is wholly unacceptable and should stop immediately," he said.
The Wits Chancellor says we urgently need a Codesa of Education convened by civil society in order to solve the higher education crisis or face the reality of unrest during the 2017 registration period.
"I understand the stance of the state that the nation should await the outcome of the Heher [Fees] Commission. At a formalistic level that may be the correct approach, but the students in protest will not wait for the Heher Commission report. I think the education forum must sit from now to the end of December to deal with the issues," he said.