DA calls for commission of inquiry into violence at universities, colleges

The DA wants more to be done to end violence at universities and colleges.

Students from Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), in South Africa, demonstrate on the campus, on February 7, 2019. - WITS students tried to shut down the university during the ongoing protests as they demand that homeless fellow students should be provided with adequate accommodation and students who have historical debts be allowed to register at the university. (Photo by WIKUS DE WET / AFP)

In a press statement penned by Belinda Bozzoli, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has issued a call for a Ministerial Commission to be created for universities and colleges to fight violence. Bozzoli is the DA Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology.

The call comes after violence has been seen to escalate across campuses. Over the past few months reports of murder, rape, suicide, and “collective violence in places throughout the country” have grown.

Cases of shootings and murders at campuses

Some of the cases that have come to light according to the DA are:

Sandile Ndlovu who was stabbed in the head on the Durban University of Technology campus. Katlego Monareng who was allegedly shot by a police officer at the Tshwane University of Technology.

Mlungisi Madonsela was also allegedly shot by security guards at the Durban University of Technology.

The most infamous case is that of Uyinene Mrwetyana. She was raped and murdered off the University of Cape Town campus at a Post Office and her case also sparked an uprising against gender-based violence (GBV).

An unnamed student was mugged and shot dead just off the University of Johannesburg campus. Near the Stellenbosch University campus, Hannah Cornelius was carjacked, raped, and bludgeoned to death on 27 May 2017.

Cases of suicide are on the rise

The DA also revealed that suicide cases appeared to be on the rise too. In 2018, there were 23 attempted suicide cases reported at the University of Pretoria.

The same year saw three suicides reported at the University of the Witwatersrand including those of Relobogile Pheto and Kago Mogoeng. Also in 2018, two suicides occurred at the University of the Western Cape.

Violent protests on campus

student protests vut — VUT students burning campus buildings during protests / Photo: @motlalepule_m96 / Twitter

Violent protests are also reported throughout the year despite free Higher Education for the poor being ruled into law. Some of the incidents that have been reported are:

The financial head of the University of the Free State was physically assaulted by angry students. At Sefako Makgatho University, lessons were stopped because of protests by students.

Tyre-burning protests were reported at East Cape Midlands TVET College. The DA also listed the Nelson Mandela University where seven people were arrested due to violent protests.

Stone-throwing and violence at Fort Hare University with several students injured. At the Durban University of Technology nine students were arrested for dousing a security guard with petrol and trying to set him alight.

“There are many other examples which together paint a picture of Universities as increasingly brutal, violent and unpleasant places to study and work. This reflects the general brutality of our society today. Importantly it works against the principle upon which Universities throughout the world operate – that they should be places of peaceful, contemplative learning and research.”
Professor Belinda Bozzoli

What the education minister has vowed to do

Minister Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, vice-chancellors, and others have agreed that the problem needs further investigation. So far, vice-chancellors have promised to ”gather material” on the issue.

Nzimande also promised to quicken the building of proper residences for students to protect them from the violent communities they live in. Gender-based violence would be addressed separately.

Private security guards hide themselves behind shields as students throw rocks during a protest at Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), in South Africa, on February 7, 2019. – WITS students tried to shut down the university during the ongoing protests as they demand that homeless students should be provided with adequate accommodation and students who have historical debts be allowed to register at the university. (Photo by WIKUS DE WET / AFP)

What the Ministerial Commission would do

However, the DA felt the above measures weren’t enough, therefore, calling upon the creation of “a formal, properly constituted Ministerial Commission on Violence and Trauma on University and College Campuses.”

The commission would look into:

The underlying economic, political, social and cultural reasons for ongoing violence on and near campuses and how to address them.
Addressing gender-based violence may best be addressed in this context
Why suicides happen and how to address them
The costs of providing better protection for students from each other and from outside criminals
Proper configuration and deployment of university security
The ideal levels of protection afforded to students against criminals on and off campus

The commission would provide the minister with enough material and guidance showing how best to reconfigure their campuses to reduce violence at universities and colleges.