Blade must take the lead in assisting Vice-Chancellors to resolve student protests
26 February 2016
The DA welcomes the visit by Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Mduduzi Manana, to the North West University’s (NWU) Mafikeng Campus following the escalation of tensions, allegedly by the EFF, resulting in the torching of university buildings on Wednesday night.
While this is a step in the right direction by the Deputy Minister, we remain disappointed that Minister Nzimande himself has done little to reassure an anxious public that his main concern is with ensuring that the vital tasks of teaching, learning and research continue at our Universities. Indeed, in spite of his issuing a statement on Wednesday, Minister Nzimande remains conspicuous by his absence on campuses and in the public eye.
I will thus request that the Minister be summoned before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education to present a plan detailing how he, together with the Vice-Chancellor concerned, Professor Kwadi, will make sure that students at NWU will be assisted with accommodation and academic support to ensure they complete their studies this year. The Ministry should provide funding as required to make this possible.
Given the failure of the Minister to assist students on Mahikeng Campus so far, those who require assistance in the interim can contact the DA’s North West Provincial Office in Mmabatho on 018 392 7270 or 079 348 1998.