I would close down varsities to teach students a lesson - Mantashe
21 September 2016
Cape Town - If African National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe was higher education minister, he would close universities for a prolonged period to teach protesting students a lesson.
"They are not doing anybody a favour," said Mantashe in response to a question on the fees protests, on the side-lines of the SA Clothing Textile and Allied Workers Union (Sactwu) congress in Cape Town on Wednesday.
He prefaced his statement with the disclaimer that he was not minister of education, but that if he was, that is what he would do.
"I'm not the minister of education. Because if I was my first reaction would be to close them. For 16 months. And open them after six months, and close the residences for six months. After a year, people will know higher education will be important for their future. You are not doing anyone a favour by studying."