President Jacob Zuma‚ while pledging his government would tackle student funding problems‚ denounced hooliganism and vandalism on South Africa’s university campuses.

The president met university vice-chancellors at the Union Buildings in Pretoria today to discuss “the recent unacceptable levels of violence currently being experienced on some university campuses across the country”‚ his office said in a statement.

Zuma said afterwards that Government recognises and supports the right of university students‚ like all other members of our society‚ to protest and to voice their opinions and grievances.

 “But this right should be exercised with utmost responsibility‚ ensuring that the rights of other South Africans are not violated in the process.

“We… strongly condemn the violence and destruction of property that have taken place at some of our universities in the name of student protests over the past year or so.”

The meeting agreed that all forms of dispute must be resolved through negotiation and that “where wanton acts of criminality take place‚ the law must take its course”.

Commenting on pressure for increased student financial aid‚ Zuma said while government was committed to funding poor students in higher education‚ this needed to be seen in the context of a constrained fiscal climate.

 This has also increased dramatically‚ with the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding rising from R441 million in 1997 to over R9.5 billion in 2015.

“Processes for improving the disbursement of funds‚ and concerted efforts to root out fraud‚ as well as sourcing additional funding to support students are currently being implemented‚” the president said.

Zuma announced the establishment of a Task Team made up of officials from the Department of Higher Education and Training‚ the Presidency‚ NSFAS‚ two Vice-Chancellors representing the leadership of universities‚ two student representatives as well as other higher education stakeholders‚ to explore solutions to short-term student funding challenges.

The Task Team will make recommendations by the end of November 2015.

The president sent a message to both students and administrators at tertiary institutions.

“While these processes are under way‚ students need to be brought on board for frank and honest discussions so as to ensure that they do not resort to violence and destruction of property‚” Zuma said.

“At the same time‚ while violent student responses have been condemned‚ the management of universities must open up legitimate channels for discussion and dialogue over matters concerning students‚ with a view to resolving whatever issues they 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 the situation and spurred by poor communication.”

Similarly‚ he added‚ institutions of higher learning must follow their rules and procedures and “must also be allowed to take strong disciplinary action where it is warranted”.

“Any shortfalls in financial aid should not be used as a justification for hooliganism and vandalism of state property. Equally‚ students protesting for the transformation of institutions must focus on dialogue and legitimate means of negotiation and protest to bring about change.”

He hoped that concrete proposals about transformation and other issues affecting campuses could emerge from the 2nd Higher Education Summit that will take place in Durban from 15 – 17 October‚ 2015.