This time of year it is not uncommon for protest actions to take place at tertiary institutions where classes for the year have just commenced.
“You are part of the lucky few,” Prof. Andrew Crouch, vice-chancellor and principal of the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley emphasised in the welcoming ceremony to 2022’s first-year entering students.
As he is an experienced hand at student matters and ways, he also told the new students to not participate in “burning down the university”, as in doing so, “you will be burning down your feature”.
The biggest challenge for the youngsters of this generation is poverty and inequality, he said, telling them that many of their age group are caught in a poverty trap – “they are not the lucky few,” he said.
Since last week, a number of students have been protesting at the SPU (as is the case at other tertiary institutions). In the memorandum of demands it is stated that they are, among other things, unhappy that some first-year students are housed in emergency housing as an interim measure, and that Covid-19 vaccination is mandatory.
By Monday (28/02) the “peaceful protest” turned into a disruption of classes, the burning of tyres and the intimidation of fellow studens and staff. Some even tried to halt the construction on campus; violating health and safety protocols in doing so.
In the meantime, missiles are flying over Ukraine, threatening millions of lives. In Northern Cape suburbs, townships and informal settlements, millions of unemployed youth are living with no hope for tomorrow; children go to school hungry and barefoot – or do not even attend school due to poverty.
In his state of the province address, the premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, once again utter his vision of a “modern, growing and successful province.” He mentioned youth unemployment figures and the urgent need to provide these young people with opportunities.
Protest action by the “lucky few” in view of these words seems to be so old-fashioned, counterproductive and selfish.
