Cool heads needed to cope

Something has gone terribly wrong at some of our higher education institutions. This past week we saw racial tension and physical attacks escalate at some of our universities. In one instance, a university building was burnt down.

It would be an exaggeration to characterize this as a crisis but the developments are worrying nonetheless to put matters in perspective, there are 26 universities in South Africa. Four of them - University of Pretoria, University of Free State, University of Cape Town and North West University - have seen some violent demonstrations and one arson attack. The relative calm at all our other universities restrain me from calling this a crisis.

I have tried to listen closely, albeit at a distance, at what lies behind these unfortunate incidents. The problems are systemic and also point to a lack of leadership at various levels. Take the issue of outsourced workers at the University of Free State as an example. The Workers-Students Forum there apparently protested on behalf of workers whose jobs have been outsourced and they allege they were not being listened to. But this issue was raised by the University of Witwatersrand students last year when they embarked on their #FeesMustFall campaign.

One would have thought after that protest there would be sensitivity about outsourcing jobs and that universities, as a sector, would adopt a common approach to the matter or at least put a moratorium on outsourcing until a permanent solution has been found. In a country where unemployment is high and job security for low skilled workers is an issue, is it not a reasonable plea for universities to show sensitivity on outsourcing? But we should go further and ask: what is it that pushes universities, at a systemic level, to corporatize by adopting labour practices associated with cut-throat business?

It is very unfortunate, and points to a lack of leadership by both the university and higher education authorities in South Africa, that an essential labour matter was left to boil to a point where things got so ugly that some students were beaten up and the academic programme had to be temporarily suspended. As for the thuggery and hooliganism we saw during the Varsity Cup rugby game that should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

Then there is the issue of language, Afrikaans in particular, which flared up at the University of Pretoria. Language can be a very sensitive issue in this country. Indeed, it gave us June 16, 1976 and one would have thought our university authorities would be alive to this reality. It would seem to me this matter has been left to linger on for a long time. When one section of the student population is disadvantaged through an institution's language policy, you are inviting trouble. I personally think students should be allowed, resources permitting, to learn in a language they are comfortable with. Pragmatism and fairness (rather than loyalty to or hatred for Afrikaans) should resolve the language issue at the University of Pretoria.

As for the issue of arson at our universities, as seen by the torching of the science centre at North West University, it is time our law enforcement authorities adopted a tougher enforcement approach. The legislative framework already exists. In December last year President Jacob Zuma signed the Criminal Matters Amendment Act, 2015 into law. The act introduces harsher sentences for the destruction of essential infrastructure and more stringent bail conditions and applications for perpetrators.

The torched building at North West University was essential infrastructure for science students and reportedly also served 10 000 pupils a year through various learning support activities. In a country where we are trying to improve science education the destruction of that building amounts to national sabotage. The police must investigate and the perpetrators brought to book. However angry the students were and however legitimate their demands may have been, nothing justifies the senseless act that was committed. The law must take its course.

While South Africa tries to expand its higher education system and afford every deserving student an opportunity to get a professional qualification, there will be challenges on the way. After all, overcoming the previous system where students were excluded based on race, affordability, language and geography is not going to be easy. As we deal with the challenges of higher education, we appeal for cool heads by all those who are in the rye of the storm, particularly the students and university authorities. We can resolve the challenges without resorting to violence.