Following violent protests at the University of Limpopo on Tuesday evening‚ singer and activist Simphiwe Dana has pleaded with the government to heed the calls of the students‚ showing concern over reports of chaos on campuses.
In the wake of a clamorous week filled with violent protests — which saw more than 100 university students being arrested‚ university properties being destructed and a contract cleaner at Wits university dying — Simphiwe has taken to Instagram to call on the government to listen to the cries of protesting students.
In the midst of the tumultuous chaos‚ the singer expressed her concern with the ongoing violence‚ pointing a finger to the government for not delivering on their “promise” to the students.
“When you fail to deliver on your promise. When you have disdain for your constituency. When you are anti-poor. When you cannot manipulate their revolution. You resort to state sanctioned violence. You criminalize their revolution. Call them thugs and hooligans. Many of these students will end up with criminal records‚ which will further minimize their chances of a good life. Many of them have been injured. Rumours of some being killed in University of Limpopo‚” she started by writing.
She further explained that while she does not condone the destruction of university properties‚ she disapproves of the reported police brutality during the protests‚ which she compared to “apartheid tactics“.
“Who is this government that resorts to apartheid tactics when they can’t deliver on their promises? Why does this government expect their people to suffer in silence?” she asked‚ before appealing to Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Ndzimande to be cognizant of what is happening in the country.
“It is my appeal to Blade Nzimande to smell this coffee. These students have had enough! Will you let it all burn because you don’t have the political will to change policies so as to accommodate free education? Will you turn a blind eye if we get to another Marikana? What of CorpSA? Having hugely benefited from apartheid why do you think it is not your problem that the poor are getting poorer and their children are barred from resources that would better their lives? “
Simphiwe was part of the highly-publicised #FeesMustFall campaign held last year. The musician was among the dozens of celebrities who took to the streets of Johannesburg to march in solidarity with the students.
'Why does this government expect their people to suffer in silence?' asks Simphiwe Dana
Following violent protests at the University of Limpopo on Tuesday evening‚ singer and activist Simphiwe Dana has pleaded with the government to heed the calls of the students‚ showing concern over reports of chaos on campuses.
In the wake of a clamorous week filled with violent protests — which saw more than 100 university students being arrested‚ university properties being destructed and a contract cleaner at Wits university dying — Simphiwe has taken to Instagram to call on the government to listen to the cries of protesting students.
In the midst of the tumultuous chaos‚ the singer expressed her concern with the ongoing violence‚ pointing a finger to the government for not delivering on their “promise” to the students.
“When you fail to deliver on your promise. When you have disdain for your constituency. When you are anti-poor. When you cannot manipulate their revolution. You resort to state sanctioned violence. You criminalize their revolution. Call them thugs and hooligans. Many of these students will end up with criminal records‚ which will further minimize their chances of a good life. Many of them have been injured. Rumours of some being killed in University of Limpopo‚” she started by writing.
She further explained that while she does not condone the destruction of university properties‚ she disapproves of the reported police brutality during the protests‚ which she compared to “apartheid tactics“.
“Who is this government that resorts to apartheid tactics when they can’t deliver on their promises? Why does this government expect their people to suffer in silence?” she asked‚ before appealing to Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Ndzimande to be cognizant of what is happening in the country.
“It is my appeal to Blade Nzimande to smell this coffee. These students have had enough! Will you let it all burn because you don’t have the political will to change policies so as to accommodate free education? Will you turn a blind eye if we get to another Marikana? What of CorpSA? Having hugely benefited from apartheid why do you think it is not your problem that the poor are getting poorer and their children are barred from resources that would better their lives? “
Simphiwe was part of the highly-publicised #FeesMustFall campaign held last year. The musician was among the dozens of celebrities who took to the streets of Johannesburg to march in solidarity with the students.
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