Reacting to student protests at the Tshwane University of Technology, the
IFP's spokesperson on Higher Education and Training, Mr Alfred Mpontshane
MP, has called on the Department to investigate student's frustrations with
TUT management, and to intervene.
"What has happened at Tshwane University of Technology is shocking," said
Mpontshane. "How can students be vacated from the University's residences
when that is their only place of residence while studying at the University?
Where are these students supposed to sleep?"
Mpontshane pointed out that students stay in university residences because
they are far from home and want to be closer to the university's facilities.
"When parents let their children stay at university residences they are
assured of the safety of their children," said Mpontshane. "When students
are thrown out of residences and are left stranded with nowhere else to go,
they become easy targets of crime. What if these students are harmed while
they are roaming the streets? Will the University take responsibility for
that?"
The IFP questions whether parents can trust the University's management with
the safety of their children when decisions like this are taken. It is an
indictment on TUT management that students are protesting instead of
focusing on their studies to get their qualifications, to better our
country. Clearly intervention is needed.