Higher Education South Africa (HESA) notes with growing concern the violent student protests that are disrupting classes and academic life at the Durban University of Technology…

Higher Education South Africa (HESA) notes with growing concern the violent student protests that are disrupting classes and academic life at the Durban University of Technology. In particular, HESA condemns the violence, intimidation and damage to university property that has accompanied these protests.

The ongoing protests are particularly disturbing considering that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ahmed Bawa, and his management team have sought every conceivable way to resolve the issue. From securing an additional R45 million this year from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for funding DUT students, to meeting with students to discuss their demands, to ensuring that students could meet with the Deputy Director–General of the Department of Higher Education and Training and to briefing the Minister himself, the Vice-Chancellor has pursued every avenue to find a solution.

“There are two issues here which are deeply worrying for higher education,” says Prof Ihron Rensburg, the Chairperson of HESA. “Firstly there is a dangerous misunderstanding of the way in which the university operates. The protest is predicated on a misperception that the Vice-Chancellor and his management team have complete control over how an institution is governed and what it is able to do under its remit. The key issue is one of NSFAS funding, especially for Bachelor of Technology students. This is however out of the hands of DUT and is decided by NSFAS.

Secondly, funding is a concern for both students and the university. Presently, 7,800 (about a third of the DUT student population) students are funded by NSFAS which shows the commitment of the university to increasing access. That the funding issue has been subsumed by additional demands for the distribution of branded condoms and personal hygiene products belittles the original cause for the disruption. This detracts from the important issue originally raised, and in this context HESA fully supports DUT’s decision to bring an interdict against the SRC.”

The CEO of HESA, Prof Duma Malaza, is concerned about arson and damage to buildings. “HESA is investigating the backlog of existing buildings and equipment, especially in the light of increasing participation for future students. The Chair of HESA has been appointed by the Minister to investigate the condition of residences. So buildings and equipment are a top priority for HESA. Historically disadvantaged institutions like DUT are the most affected by the infrastructural backlog and cannot afford further losses through pointless exercises of vandalism.”

Malaza argues that this could have a detrimental impact on future students. “It makes it increasingly difficult for higher education to lobby Government for additional infrastructural funding when students show a blatant disregard for what there is currently. For students the university is their home, both physically and intellectually. The destruction of university property not only shows a disregard for their present homes but runs the risk of denying admission to their fellow compatriots in the future.”