Concerned citizens offer services to help universities

Independent mediation, conflict resolution and facilitation services on offer to universities and student movements

Student unrest at universities has reached untenable levels; the tensions have led to violence as well as a number of assaults. We are at a crisis point and have to act now. 

As a result, a group of like-minded active citizens have joined forces to offer independent mediation, conflict resolution and facilitation services to the universities and student movements that request it. This help will be provided under the name #AccessThuto, meaning “access education”. 

#AccessThuto is led by former Constitutional Court Justice and Chairperson of the Social Cohesion Reference Group Yvonne Mokgoro, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation Sello Hatang, and Neeshan Balton, CEO of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. 

#AccessThuto will seek to listen to students, academic staff and management at universities to help neutralise the conflict currently experienced at universities. It will use a network of organisations and individuals to provide professional, independent and non-partisan help to the university community as it grapples with difficult issues of transformation. 

#AccessThuto will work with all stakeholders, including students, families, university management and the government. 

#AccessThuto has identified a number of pressing issues – such as managing violence, leadership, transformation, the role of parents, peace-building and justice, and the management of dialogue – that must be addressed in order to find sustainable solutions to the ongoing crisis. 

“We have now reached a crisis point that compels us to act to help neutralise what is happening at universities. I urge students, management and rectors to show restraint and use our services to curb the levels of conflict. We have a long history of constructive dialogue which we are committed to help facilitate,” says Mokgoro. 

#AccessThuto plans to meet all the stakeholders in order to help neutralise the crisis. This includes student bodies, university administrators, the government and parents. 

#AccessThuto will not attempt to replace current institutional measures by the government and the universities, but will provide additional support services, in particular when there is a deadlock between parties. 
We call on all sectors of society, including business and civil society, to assist in overcoming this impasse.

Statement issued by Lunga Nene, Nelson Mandela Foundation, 26 February 2016