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South African education minister warns against violence during student protests

Xinhua, September 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

South African Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande on Wednesday called for punitive measures against perpetrators of violence during student protests.

The minister called on all relevant arms of the state to redouble their efforts to track down, prosecute and jail the small band of criminals working to destroy the country's education infrastructure.

The minister was reacting to the burning of the main examination hall at the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the reported torching of a truck belonging to the University of Zululand this week during student protests against possible fee rises.

"There can never be a rational justification for the destruction of assets that we as a country need to empower the next generation so that they can play their full role in building the South African economy," Nzimande said.

He called on police, prosecutors and other responsible state institutions to "track down this criminal minority and put an end to their barbaric behaviour."

"Communities, parents, students, and staff must also mobilize in protection of the country's learning and teaching facilities," he said.

Student protests re-erupted over the past few days amid reports that institutions of higher learning would increase tuition fees by six percent as proposed by the Council on Higher Education.

Students have threatened to disrupt institutions of higher learning if their demand for zero fee increase is not met.

Earlier, Nzimande warned that zero fee increases would force universities to downsize or shut down certain programs.

South African universities were hit by widespread protests over fee increases last year. According to official figures, the unrest cost more than 145 million rand (about 10.8 million U.S. dollars) in damage.

Following the unrest, President Jacob Zuma appointed a commission to look into the students' concerns.

The government then suspended fee increases for 2016 and provided universities with billions of rand for the shortfall.

Last month, Zuma instructed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, as well as Nzimande to find money for another zero-percent fee increase for 2017.

The National Treasury has told the Fees Commission of Inquiry, looking into the feasibility of free tertiary education, that a zero-percent fee increment for 2017 was not budgeted for. Endit