Some University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students are turning to prayer instead of protests.
Feesmustfall activist Xola Mehlomakulu‚ a second-year student at the university’s Pietermaritzburg campus said students had met on Monday afternoon to discuss how to humanise their struggle in an attempt to deflect the perception that they were “thugs and hooligans“.
The meeting came after the entrance to the William O ‘Brien residence was set alight at about 6am on Monday.
Mehlonakulu said that a university management court interdict which prevented mass meetings on the campus‚ didn’t allow for them to constructively register their protest about possible hikes to university fees next year.
“We as students condemn the use of violence or destruction of our property. We believe that the interdict is a divide and rule strategy by the university to delegitimise our concerns. It is in the interests of management that we are portrayed as thugs and hooligans.”
He said it was for this reason that they were turning to spirituality and prayer vigils to register their protest.
Mehlonakulu said that as far they were concerned there would be no examinations this year “because this legitimised the continued colonisation of the curriculum“.
He said they had co-opted a number of academics and lecturers who were in support of their shift toward spirituality as a means to fight for a no-fee increase in 2017. A prayer vigil has been planned for Tuesday afternoon at the Pietermaritzburg campus.
A number of lecturers who spoke to TMG‚ on condition of anonymity‚ said they supported the students in their attempt to use spirituality and prayer in their campaign.
“The events on campus‚ the fires and the destruction of campus infrastructure make it clear that this is not the way forward‚” said one academic.
Another lecturer said management was not engaging‚ not protecting and not listening to the students.
“This is all happening because they are calling for social justice and equity and we should all come together. Fee paying parents‚ academics‚ students‚ and unite in a participatory democracy because we are all affected here.”
The lecturer said the cause seemed to have been hijacked by unsavoury elements.
Another student‚ activist Ayanda Phoswa‚ said the campaign for free education could be supported by government if they reprioritised their budget by shifting money allocated‚ for example‚ on entertainment to education.
“I can tell you that even if I write exams‚ the chances of me coming back to study next year are not good. I am swimming in debt because my mom is a single parent and we are five siblings.”
Phoswa said he had applied for financial student assistance but had been turned down.
“I don’t want a loan. I want free education. A loan will only allow me to get a car and house 10 years down the line. That’s no good.”
Pray instead of protesting‚ say student activists
Some University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students are turning to prayer instead of protests.
Feesmustfall activist Xola Mehlomakulu‚ a second-year student at the university’s Pietermaritzburg campus said students had met on Monday afternoon to discuss how to humanise their struggle in an attempt to deflect the perception that they were “thugs and hooligans“.
The meeting came after the entrance to the William O ‘Brien residence was set alight at about 6am on Monday.
Mehlonakulu said that a university management court interdict which prevented mass meetings on the campus‚ didn’t allow for them to constructively register their protest about possible hikes to university fees next year.
“We as students condemn the use of violence or destruction of our property. We believe that the interdict is a divide and rule strategy by the university to delegitimise our concerns. It is in the interests of management that we are portrayed as thugs and hooligans.”
He said it was for this reason that they were turning to spirituality and prayer vigils to register their protest.
Mehlonakulu said that as far they were concerned there would be no examinations this year “because this legitimised the continued colonisation of the curriculum“.
He said they had co-opted a number of academics and lecturers who were in support of their shift toward spirituality as a means to fight for a no-fee increase in 2017. A prayer vigil has been planned for Tuesday afternoon at the Pietermaritzburg campus.
A number of lecturers who spoke to TMG‚ on condition of anonymity‚ said they supported the students in their attempt to use spirituality and prayer in their campaign.
“The events on campus‚ the fires and the destruction of campus infrastructure make it clear that this is not the way forward‚” said one academic.
Another lecturer said management was not engaging‚ not protecting and not listening to the students.
“This is all happening because they are calling for social justice and equity and we should all come together. Fee paying parents‚ academics‚ students‚ and unite in a participatory democracy because we are all affected here.”
The lecturer said the cause seemed to have been hijacked by unsavoury elements.
Another student‚ activist Ayanda Phoswa‚ said the campaign for free education could be supported by government if they reprioritised their budget by shifting money allocated‚ for example‚ on entertainment to education.
“I can tell you that even if I write exams‚ the chances of me coming back to study next year are not good. I am swimming in debt because my mom is a single parent and we are five siblings.”
Phoswa said he had applied for financial student assistance but had been turned down.
“I don’t want a loan. I want free education. A loan will only allow me to get a car and house 10 years down the line. That’s no good.”
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