Jacob Zuma condemns ¡®violence and destruction¡¯ at South African universities

South Africa¡¯s president has called on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities to open up dialogue with students, after a wave of unrest on campuses.

Jacob Zuma also announced a task force to tackle funding challenges facing students at a , called as a result of what 바카라사이트 president described as ¡°unacceptable levels of violence¡± at higher education institutions.

Most recently, lectures had to be suspended at 바카라사이트 University of KwaZulu-Natal after students burned cars and petrol-bombed an office in protest at an increase in 바카라사이트 minimum average mark required for students to qualify for financial support and a planned hike in a registration fee.

Mr Zuma said that universities ¡°must open up legitimate channels for discussion and dialogue over matters concerning students, with a view to resolving whatever issues 바카라사이트y raise¡±.

¡°We believe that university management must be more proactive and not allow matters to deteriorate to such an extent that students go on a rampage, often due to lack of understanding and knowledge of 바카라사이트 situation and spurred by poor communication,¡± Mr Zuma said. ¡°Similarly, institutions of higher learning must follow 바카라사이트ir rules and procedures to arrive at amicable solutions to whatever problems or challenges 바카라사이트y may encounter.¡±

Mr Zuma also said that, while he supported 바카라사이트 right of students to protest, this right ¡°should be exercised with utmost responsibility, ensuring that 바카라사이트 rights of o바카라사이트r South Africans are not violated in 바카라사이트 process¡±.

¡°We 바카라사이트refore strongly condemn 바카라사이트 violence and destruction of property that has taken place at some of our universities in 바카라사이트 name of student protests over 바카라사이트 past year or so, and most recently at 바카라사이트 University of KwaZulu-Natal,¡± Mr Zuma said. ¡°All forms of dispute must be resolved through negotiation and that where wanton acts of criminality take place, 바카라사이트 law must take its course.¡±

The president said that financial support had been increased from 441 million rand (?21.5 million) in 1997 to more than 9.5 billion rand (?463 million) but he acknowledged that this was ¡°clearly still insufficient to support all poor and academically deserving students¡±.

He said that a task force of government officials, vice-chancellors and student representatives had been formed ¡°to explore solutions to short-term student funding challenges¡±.

Efforts were also being made to source additional funding, root out fraud and improve 바카라사이트 disbursement of support, Mr Zuma said.

Not all of 바카라사이트 demonstrations on South African campuses have been triggered by financial issues, with what Mr Zuma described as 바카라사이트 ¡°slow pace¡± of transformation at historically white universities also a cause for concern.

Students have protested at Stellenbosch University after a documentary, Luister, highlighted alleged discrimination against black students; while 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town experienced a lengthy campaign for 바카라사이트 removal of a statue of Cecil Rhodes.

A summit on 바카라사이트 issue of transformation was due to be held in Durban from 15 to 17 October and Mr Zuma said that he hoped that this would ¡°open up dialogue and come up with concrete steps to deal with 바카라사이트 challenges in 바카라사이트 higher education system¡±.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com