Cape Town - Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande on Monday said he was disturbed by the chaotic and violent clashes between students and police at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), which later spilled over onto the streets of the Johannesburg CBD.
In a statement, Nzimande accused students of being disrespectful, irresponsible, and holding at ransom Wits’ attempts to continue with its academic programme.
“This is a critical time for the academic programme with examinations fast approaching, therefore it is of paramount importance for classes and lectures to resume without delay,” said Nzimande.
“We strongly condemn the actions of a few striking students who clearly don’t want to see the completion of the 2016 academic programme. They continue to disrupt and intimidate students who want to continue with their studies.”
The minister called on university management to do all it can to ensure universities reopen.
“I have been in discussions with a number of stakeholders who adopted the multi stakeholder declaration on the 3rd of October and called for the universities to reopen and for learning to continue. Therefore, the non striking students cannot be held at ransom by a few striking students who don’t want to learn.”
Most of the country’s universities remained closed on Monday as running battles between police and protesting students, demonstrating under the #FeesMustFall banner.
The protest at the Wits campus spilled out onto the streets of Braamfontein in central Johannesburg where students went on the rampage, setting alight a bus.
African News Agency