The Higher Education and Training department says strong action should be taken against violent student protests and those engaged in criminal acts should be arrested by police.

Taking a tough stance after a spate of student riots‚ most recently at the University of KwaZulu-Natal this week where cars were set alight in a dispute over revised policies for student financial aid‚ the department said in a statement it “condemns the violent students’ protests at our universities”.

Commenting on the protests at UKZN’s Westville campus‚ the department said the university management and the Council should “act decisively and take strong action against anyone found to have contributed to the violence and destruction of property”.

“The department further condemns the criminal element in operation‚ whose intention is not to advance the interests of students and the institution.

“The management of the university must engage the South African Police Services (SAPS) to investigate and arrest anyone who engages in illegal activities and ensure that they face the full might of the law. We request the SAPS to assist with the safeguarding of university property.”

The department also called on all student organisations and Student Representative Councils (SRCs) to condemn the destruction of property.

While students have the right to protest‚ “we are vehemently opposed to illegal activity‚ violence and destruction of property”‚ the department added.

“We call upon the management of the university to take decisive action against those elements that are bent on using any excuse to turn our institutions into sites of violence and vandalism.

“The department cannot and will not tolerate the destruction of property and threat to lives. The primary objective of our universities is teaching‚ learning and research‚ and these activities should remain sacrosanct.”

-Commenting on the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) after the killing of two female students at a private residence leased by the university‚ the department called on the “University Management‚ the campus community and society to ensure the safety of students residing in both on- and off-campus residences”.

“We acknowledge the commitment of the University Management to improve the on-campus security. The management can still do better to ensure the security of our children both on and off campus… In addition‚ private residence provision in the South African higher education landscape must be regulated by the individual institutions and safety and security must be top priority.”