Johannesburg - Parents, students and university authorities have lamented the impact of the disruptions of academic activities and pleaded with the protesters to rethink their actions.
Since Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande recommended last week that universities should individually determine fee increases for 2017, but cap it at 8 percent, students have gone on the rampage, burning and vandalising buildings. This is as they demand free higher education.
The protests have brought the tertiary education system to a standstill throughout the country, with many institutions forced to suspend academic activities.
Protesting Wits University students were on Monday forced to abandon their planned march to vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib’s house after it emerged that it was heavily guarded.
“He is behaving like a pop star. He is speaking to us via eNCA and on the radio… We haven't seen him in the past two weeks. We don’t have a vice-chancellor here,” said former student representative council president Mcebo Dlamini.
He urged institutions such as the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Tshwane University of Technology and the University of Johannesburg to join Tuesday's total shutdown.
On Monday, hundreds of parents and students at Wits University lamented the disruptions to academic activities. They asked that they not be identified in order to protect their children.
One parent said it was painful to see her two children unable to continue with their studies. “I am deeply concerned that the continued protests and threat of the university not reopening any time soon will negatively impact on them passing this academic year.
"I strongly believe that everybody has a right to express their views, however it should never be to the detriment of someone else,” said the parent.
“Many students only have one opportunity to study and will never get this opportunity again.”
Several concerned parents explained that many of them have had to make financial plans and deals with the university to get their children through the system.
“We struggle financially, and to pay using money earned through sweat and blood for our children’s education only to have them barred from continuing their studies by a minority of students is unfair,” said one mom, who has three children studying at Wits.
“We’re not against the fight for cheaper education, but at what cost will this come? I have a child in final year and he wants to finish,” she added.
More students also voiced their unhappiness with the disruptions. In a letter to Wits, a fourth-year student said: “I am one of the few students that cannot afford to lose this time due to the protests. I have worked four years to be where I am and I want to finish my degree this year. I want to do my honours, but I fear this will hinder my chances.”
According to Wits, there are more than 36 000 students studying at the institution, with only about 1 000 actively taking part in protest action.
The university said yesterday it had received hundreds of emails and calls from students and parents, “the majority of whom are concerned, angry and anxious about the future of the university, and who want classes to resume”.
Wits also announced that it would run a poll later this week to gauge the thoughts of staff and students on the resumption of the academic programme on Monday, if appropriate security measures are in place.
“The poll will facilitate as wide a response as possible to the current crisis. All responses will remain anonymous. We are requesting the Independent Electoral Commission to oversee this process and to verify the results independently,” it said.