Postpone Centenary Celebrations until students get promised funding

19 May 2016

The national government’s now official position to continue with tomorrow’scentenary celebration again demonstrates just how out of touch they are with the plight of poor students.

DASO firmly believes that the celebration should be postponed until the funding crisis at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) is resolved. 

 We have condemned in the strongest terms possible the violence and vandalism witnessed at the University yesterday. Violence is not the solution and will only make the situation worse for students who are currently going hungry. 

 Spending money on a lavish party at the same time as funding has dried up is a slap in the face for thousands of students, most of whom have not resorted to the condemnable violence that was encountered yesterday.

We urge the national government to show the much needed leadership to resolve the crisis and postpone the celebration until such stage as the funding crisis at the University has been resolved.

We cannot allow for young people’s future to be put into jeopardy. 

Issued by Yusuf Cassim, DASO Leader, 19 May 2016