Universities need assistance to deal with R300 million in damages caused by protests
12 April 2016
In response to a question by the DA, the Department of Higher Education (DHET) has indicated that damages caused by protests at universities in recent months now stands at over R300 million. This is more than double the R145 million in damages estimated last month. Of the total amount, R151 million stems from protests at North West University alone.
The DA condemns in the strongest terms possible the destruction of university property by radical student groups. Their conduct has no place in our constitutional democracy. More seriously, they have directed money away from the legitimate needs of thousands of poor students. This money will now be spent on fixing the mess they have deliberately created in a bid to further their own radical agendas.
This is also a massive blow to universities that already under immense financial strain as a result of inadequate funding from the DHET, compounded by the 0% fee increase last year.
While some of the damages will be covered by insurers, universities will desperately require financial assistance from the state to repair and rebuild already overstretched infrastructure. Without additional funding to restore operations, the ability of universities to provide quality education to students will be severely compromised.
As yet, however, there has been no indication from the DHET that any such funds would be made available. Once again it is students who will suffer as a result of the Department’s inaction.
Insufficient university subsidies caused the above inflation fee increases of 2015 which led to the widespread protests. University subsidies remain woefully insufficient this year and it seems likely that substantial fee increases can be expected later in the year unless the ANC government can find a way. This will no doubt spark more protests later in the year.
The DA respects the right of students to protest peacefully for increased funding and condemns all forms of violence and destruction resorted to by radicals. The damage they cause is preventing other students from getting the education they require.
The best course of action for the ANC government is to ensure that further protests are averted by making more funds available to universities. To this end Parliament must seriously reconsider its spending priorities while debating the 2016/17 budget and consider assigning additional resources to University subsidies to rebuild and prevent further protests.
Issued by Belinda Bozzoli, DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education and Training, 13 April 2016
