Our varsities need transformation, not destruction - Nzimande
19 April 2016
Pietermaritzburg - Parents need to be part of the solution for problems facing tertiary institutions, instead of condoning protests, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said on Tuesday.
Nzimande was delivering the keynote address at a University of KwaZulu-Natal graduation ceremony at the Royal Showgrounds, where he decried the destruction of property on university campuses during recent protests, including the Fees Must Fall campaign which started last year.
The minister noted comments, allegedly made by some parents who had expressed their support for students who had participated in the trashing of campuses.
"I want to be quite forthright over the comments made by some parents by saying, this is irresponsible parenting. Today our universities are sitting with a bill of over R300m in damages to universities from the previous financial, this can educate 10 000 poor students," said Nzimande.