AfriForum Youth: Open universities, deal with troublemakers

22 September 2016

AfriForum Youth launched a petition today – University Management, let our students study in peace! – after several universities closed down their campuses due to violent protests over study fees.

The youth organisation is also dead set against the statements of Gwede Mantashe, ANC Secretary General, that he would close down university campuses for six months if he was the minister of higher education.

“AfriForum Youth is of the opinion that violence and disruption on campuses will cease when troublemakers are dealt with and prosecuted. The organisation welcomes the suspension of an EFF student leader at the University of Pretoria (UP) and hopes that action would also be taken against other students who are guilty of public violence in future,” says Morné Mostert, AfriForum Youth’s National Spokesperson.

“An example must be made of each person who damages property, intimidates, assaults or injures someone. Police, campus management and campus security allow innocent students to become victims because they neglect to act against troublemakers,” says Ian Cameron, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety.

AfriForum Youth also encourages students to sign the petition Laat ons studeer/Let us study.

“The purpose of this petition is to protect and promote the rights of paying students who really want to study. There is no reason why all students must be punished due to a radical minority group’s actions. Students’ rights to study must be respected,” says Mostert.

Follow the link to support the petition by AfriForum Youth:

University Management, let our students study in peace!

Issued by Morné Mostert, National Spokesperson, AfriForum Youth, 22 September 2016