A group of students calling themselves the “Defenders of Fort Hare University” emerged on Thursday at the Alice campus of the university and has vowed to protect the institution’s reputation and infrastructure on the eve of the much-anticipated centenary celebrations taking place there on Friday.

In a show of force, the leader of the student grouping, Andile Masoka, spoke to students at residences and encouraged them to be part of the centenary celebrations.

He told SAnews during a visit to the campus, on Thursday, that while they supported genuine student concerns, the destruction of property and the planned boycott of the centenary by some students was “unaccepted”.

His comments come in the wake of a sustained protest by some students who broke windows and set tyres alight in front of the university’s main gate, on Wednesday, demanding a meeting with the university management.

Government has condemned the vandalism and destruction of the university property. Calm returned at the Alice Campus on Thursday as a heavy police presence on foot, horseback and vans kept guard. A clean-up campaign was underway while students went on about their usual tasks and it seemed to be business as usual.

“It is true that students have genuine issues that they raise with management on a daily basis through proper and elected structures. However, it cannot be that we should allow vandalism by sinister forces who are hell-bent on disrupting the centenary,” Masoka said.

“We are saying let us continue to engage the management on these issues without resorting to barbaric acts of destroying the very same infrastructure that is aiding our very existence at this university. We are not politicians, we do not belong to any political party. We just want what is good for Fort Hare and its student population,” he said.

Another student, who asked not to be named because she is a member of the SRC, said she did not support calls for the boycott of the centenary and protests on the day but wants student issues to be resolved.

“As the SRC of Fort Hare, we are divided on the approach. Some are arguing that the centenary would be supported and that all issues we have we will take up with management once the guests have left.

“There are those who are saying let us embarrass the university in front of the nation and hundreds of visitors, and I do not agree with that stance. Students will always have issues, its ongoing and my view is that let us continue to engage to address these issues without degenerating,” the student leader said.

In their memorandum delivered to the university management on Wednesday, the protesting students demanded, among others, that all first year students who applied for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding sign loan agreement forms immediately. They also want graduates who owe the university and have signed historic debt clearance forms be awarded their degrees immediately.

The university management has called for calm, saying the issues were being attended to and that there was no need to resort to vandalism of university property.

“We have met with students and all the issues they have raised are resolvable, it’s things that we are dealing with and we agreed with them,” University Vice Chancellor, Dr Mvuyo Tom said.

The President of the SRC at Alice Campus, Thandikhaya Mathokazi, told SAnews that he called for students to support the centenary ceremony but at the same time called on the university management to meet with student leaders “urgently”.

“I do want the centenary to go ahead and I think most students do. We are part of the generation which made Fort Hare to be celebrating its 100 years. But we have issues that we have to deal with such as the fact that students are hungry and they don’t have funding. Tomorrow they will eat the food at the centenary and then what,” Mathokazi said.

“Personally and as the leader of the students in this campus, we do want the centenary celebration to go ahead and we will support it but on condition that our demands are addressed, today we are meeting with the management to talk,” he said.

The management was due to meet with students again on Thursday to deal with the issues raised and avert any disruptions during Friday’s ceremony. The university is turning 100 – having been established in 1916.

Among the guests expected on Friday are President Jacob Zuma, who will deliver a keynote address, university alumni that include IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Celebrations will continue

Government has assured the nation that the celebrations will continue as planned.

“Security agencies are on the ground at Fort Hare to ensure that the 100 year centenary celebrations are held in a safe and secure environment.

“Students grievances are being attended to and the University of Fort Hare management has responded to the immediate demands and will attend to outstanding demands requiring longer term intervention in due course,” a statement said.

The South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority would continue to update on further arrests and prosecution of the suspects in the vandalism acts.

SOURCE: Government Communication and information System