Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for transport, community safety and liaison Bheki Cele was yesterday criticised by the South African Students Congress for being a "fashionista" and not a protecting students.

Sasco said Cele had failed the students in KwaZulu-Natal when asked to intervene because he was preoccupied with his expensive clothing.

Mafika Mndebele, Sasco provincial deputy chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal, accused Cele of being a fashionista who had "failed dismally" to address the issues of attacks by police on students.

He said students at Durban University of Technology and other institutions of higher learning had been suffering a lot of police brutality and Cele was not addressing that although they had begged him to intervene.

"We can't have a minister who is a chief fashionista, wearing expensive suits but failing to address the problems caused by police in our institutions," Mndebele said.

Mndebele's sentiments on attacks on students were echoed by Magasela Mzobe, national chairperson of Sasco, who said the attacks on unarmed students were testing their patience.

"We have witnessed severe attacks on students by police in this province and it continues to happen at Mangosuthu University of Technology, University of Zululand and the Durban University of Technology."

Mzobe called on Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa to intervene.

He also clarified the issue surrounding the University of South Africa, saying they have been accused of hating its vice-chancellor, Barney Pityana, which was not the case.

"We can't have a vice-chancellor who compromises students' futures because he is busy campaigning for Cope (Congress of the People)," said Mzobe.

ANC Youth League provincial chairperson Mxolisi Kaunda urged young white people to vote for the ANC.

"I would like to appeal to the youth of other races to vote for the ANC. There's nothing like a conservative vote. If your parents voted for party X, it does not mean you have to follow them," he said.