Education Minister urged to bring calm to TUT protests

September 4, 2006

STATEMENT ISSUED BY:
MR. ALFRED MPONTSHANE - MP
IFP SPOKESPERSON ON EDUCATION


The IFP spokesperson on Education, Mr. Alfred Mpontshane, notes with concern the increase of violent protest at tertiary institutions around South Africa.
Today Mr. Mpontshane said: "Since October last year the University of Zululand has been embroiled in student protests regarding high fees, poor residence management, shortage of lecture halls, etc. It is alleged that things have returned to normal at the University's campus, but the IFP is alarmed that another University has become embroiled in protest actions regarding financial and academic exclusion".

Mr. Mpontshane further added: "On the 29th August 2006, the same day the IFP spokesperson on Education urged the Minister of Education to intervene to calm the situation at the University of Zululand; the students at Tshwane University of Technology's Shoshanguve Campus began to protest".

"We would like to call on the Education Minister once again to provide guidance, calm the situation and to chart a way forward for the parties involved. It is totally unacceptable to the IFP, that twelve years after our democracy, we have to witness crisis such as these in our tertiary institutions. We urged the Minister to take the necessary steps to bring this matter to rest, and avoid any further violent protest at other institutions of higher leaning".



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Alfred Mpontshane - MP: 083 441 6201
Noleen Hendricks: 082 886 9848