Nzimande tells parents off for encouraging destructive student protests
Higher education and training minister Blade Nzimande on Tuesday condemned parents who encouraged students’ trashing of campuses during the “fees must fall” protests that rocked the country’s universities last year.
Nzimande, speaking at the University of KwaZulu-Natal graduation ceremony in Pietermaritzburg, said the protests had left the country’s universities with a bill in excess of R300 million to fix the damage.
Nzimande, who was delivering the keynote address at a UKZN graduation ceremony at the Royal Showgrounds on Tuesday, referred to comments allegedly made by some parents who had expressed their support for the students who had participated in the trashing of campuses in the past.
“I have heard parents who have come out in support of their children who have been involved in the protest, I want to be quite forthright, this is irresponsible parenting, today our universities are sitting with a bill of over R300 million damages to universities from the previous financial, this can educate 10 000 poor students,” said Nzimande in condemning the destruction of property on campuses.
He told an audience which included academics, the university’s chancellor and treasurer of the African National Congress, Dr Zweli Mkhize, as well as graduates and parents, that while the country’s laws allowed protests, the destruction of property should not be condoned and appealed to parents to help in restoring order at tertiary institutions.
“Our universities need transformation, not destruction,” Nzimande said.
Nzimande, meanwhile, also expressed his delight at seeing graduates at Masters and PhD levels, saying this was a good omen in a country that faced a challenge of aging academics.
“I am very happy to see so many Masters and PhD graduates and we hope that some of you will pursue the academic route because the average age of academics is 50 and if nothing is done to address this, we as the country, will be in trouble in ten years’ time,” said Nzimande.
He said government was willing to assist students who wanted practical work experience through Sector Education Training Authorities (Seta), and advised students to contact a Seta that falls within their field.