HIGHER Education Minister Blade Nzimande intends to convene a meeting with students, vice-chancellors and traditional leaders by Monday to put a stop to student protests as damage to property approaches R1bn.Destruction had cost more than R600m, Nzimande said on Tuesday, adding: "We are chasing R1bn in property destroyed over the last year."He said taxpayers would have to foot the bill for repairs to "poor" universities. The government would reach "some type of understanding" with wealthier universities.Nzimande blamed "ultraleft" elements and "Trotskyites" as forces behind the destructive nationwide protests by students against university fee increases.At the heart of the protests was an anti-ANC government agenda by elements that could not win power through the ballot box and wanted to discredit and destabilise the ANC government. He claimed that the EFF was a factor trying to destabilise the state."Now there’s clearly a political agenda. It can’t be that last year many or all stu...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.