Mbeki calls on students and society to turn away from destructive protest
While sympathising with students, new Unisa chancellor Thabo Mbeki called in his inaugural address in Pretoria for an end to destruction of property in protest action
Students and society must turn their backs on protests that result in damage to property‚ says former president Thabo Mbeki, newly inaugurated chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa). In his inaugural address as chancellor, Mbeki outlined his approach on the university’s vision to become the "African university shaping futures in the service of humanity". Protests by students demanding free education last year caused damage on campuses around the country. Mbeki expressed appreciation and understanding for the "Rhodes Must Fall" and "Fees Must Fall" campaigns, but said he did not approve of unnecessary and counterproductive violence and destruction of university property. "Needless to say‚ the student movement and our society as a whole must decisively turn their backs on the forms of protests rooted in the logic of cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face." Mbeki said this was illustrated by people burning down clinics to demand better healthcare, destroying lecture r...
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