A day ago, a friend of mine Dumisani Mahlangu inspired me to write this piece after what he posted as his Facebook status. He wrote “I get a psychological anguish when I see black people burning their own institution of higher learning. It is like burning your own room and your own PlayStation, when you disagree with your parents. It does not make sense. Does it? TUT kids must learn to engage in critical thinking and inquiring dialogue. ”
A day ago, I have learned about a very unsettling circumstance that I was not cognisant of, the TUT (Tshwane University of Technology) protest. Apparently, the students were protesting against the allocation of the National Students Financial Aid Scheme and the condition of their residences. Perhaps they had valid reason to protest but it is still not a sound motive to stone buildings and threw petrol-bombs, causing extensive damage to property. I just don`t get this perception of vandalizing property.
Why burn down the library that you will need in few weeks again? Why burn down classes that you will need tomorrow? What is wrong with you? How is that going to solve the problem you had initially? How is the University property correlated with the financial aid? This is the same as taking one step forward and taking five steps backwards! It is insane! Snap out of old ways of doing things. We live in the new South Africa; burning University property won’t solve your problems.
I am persuaded to think that some people in South Africa need to wake up and abandon the old way of doing things. Specifically, TUT students need to learn to be civilised. Its time they think critical as it is part of what their taught in varsity. What is wrong with you? How much do you value your education? You elect Student Representative every year; it is their duty to debate such cases in a formal way. I discern your situation and sympathize with you, I am a University of Cape Town 4th year student myself, we have glitches of our own but we address them in a formalised and civilised way. Even other prospective Universities in South Africa are civilised in doing things. In addition, if you haven`t apprehended; the South African Universities are leading Africa statistically.
I emanate to you firstly, as a citizen of this country, then a student who adulates and respect the prominence of education, reconsider and stop what you`re doing. Then get back to class to acquire knowledge. This time around don`t just acquire knowledge but apply it when it is required. Please stop these barbaric acts and come down to South Africa, the new South Africa. What you did was a disgrace to the entire country Educational system specifically the higher institutions. Burning down universities is detrimental furthermore, we hardly have enough Universities in the country.
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