It was painful to see the death of Mlungisi Madonsela at the Durban University of Technology  (DUT) on Tuesday, the 5th February. My heart is with the family during this period and I certainly know that the pain family members are going through is unbearable.
 
It was disheartening to see other students bleeding and running for cover on the streets as violence broke out after security guards clashed with Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members who were throwing stones and other objects.
 
Most disturbing was to see a group of students from the EFF moving around with big stones and many enough to construct four-roomed houses.
 
Circulating on social media is a video clip showing EFF students breaking into residents - hurling insults; and attacking innocent students.  Those who protested against being roughed up had stones smashed in their heads. The victims will remain with traumatic brain injuries that will take years to heal.
 
This morning, on the 6th February EFF SRC leader Sesethu Godlimpi held a press briefing wherein an intervention that had been announced by the KZN provincial government was rejected.
 
Journalists who covered another press briefing convened by SASCO were physically attacked by EFF members. They were accused of covering SASCO despite the fact that the same journalists covered the EFF press briefing as well.
 
It is important to note that in the morning of the 7th February, Acting Premier Sihle Zikalala announced that a Task Team of MECs that was established by the Premier Willies Mchunu on the 7th February 2017 planned to meet with students’ leadership, vice chancellors and rectors.
 
This team was apparently established through the Human Resources Development Council to assist institutions of higher learning to deal with challenges associated with registration processes. Today, the provincial executive council announced that this long awaited meeting will take place this Friday.
 
I hope that when the spin doctors, propagandists and strategists of the EFF do a post mortem of the anarchy caused by their students at DUT will be frank to admit that carrying wheelbarrows of stones was an ill-advised gamble and an unmitigated disaster, not to be repeated.
 
I support the free education and I do not believe it should be delayed. The management of institutions of higher learning must enter into negotiations and show commitment to have these matters resolved. NSFAS must also address administration blunders and ensure that matters raised by students are adequately addressed professionally and with speed.  
 
Having said that, I believe that the source of the problem for the EFF which led to the death of a student is their desperate attempts to hog media headlines as seen in their press briefing today.
 
I can’t help but question the correctness of carrying wheelbarrows full of stones and attacking everyone including SASCO.
 
EFF always prides itself on its superior logic but the latest display of hooliganism by its members at DUT is shocking.  
 
Critically, it is unacceptable for any political party and EFF in particular to try and cash in on quick support by playing on the emotions due to the desperation that our youth face.
 
Could it be that the EFF has not learned from the violence that engulfed our province in the eighties and nineties in order to avoid confrontation that may lead to violence?
 
There are many decent options available in a democratic country.
 
The EFF could have waited for the planned meeting in order to make presentations as they have done in the past where Premier Willies Mchunu listened to all leaders of students’ formations and management without taking sides.
 
On matters of concern to business, KZN government always listens to concerns of the private sector. Government does the same with workers. And there are forums such as the KZN Human Resources Council which handles matters relating to the acquisition of knowledge and skills development in general. Organized labour, academics, researchers, non-governmental organisations and organisation representing students’ formations are represented in the HRD.
 
Everyone makes representations and HRD council considers the representations and dispose of the matter in the best way possible.
 
We must categorically condemn the violence that occurred when EFF students clashed with other students on the streets and in residences. No amount of explanation will make it acceptable to attack with stones innocent and defenceless students let alone the fact that some were females and could not run.
 
I agree with Zikalala who reiterated the message from KZN Premier Willies Mchunu that government fully understands and sympathises with the plight of poor students who find it impossible to meet rising education costs.
 
Importantly, Zikalala was correct in stating that “it is warped logic that for students’ protests to have an impact, one must destroy already existing education infrastructure required to prepare young people to be the drivers of socio-economic development in their country.”
 
May God Grant the family of the late Mlungisi Mandonsela strength during this difficult period.

This Personal viewpoint is written by Rinse Gazu in his personal capacity.