KILLING OF UDW STUDENT IS UNACCEPTABLE

17 May 2000

YOUTH COMMISSION SLAMS UDW POLICE ACTION

Pretoria - The National Youth Commission (NYC) condemns the killing of student MM Makhubane - and the possible killing of another - during yesterday's police action at the University of Durban-Westville. The Commission questions the public order policing strategies by which a situation in which no threat was posed to life and limb, resulted in one or more unarmed students being fatally shot. The clear message from the police is that in tense situations like this, they know no containment strategy short of the use of firearms. This is unacceptable in a democratic society.

Considering that police were faced with angry students, not gun-toting criminals, the apparent lack of strategic options police seemed to be able to draw on is despairing. It is extremely regrettable and unfortunate that elements within the body of protesting students steered a peaceful protest towards violence and these elements should be brought to order by student leaders. There is, however, no proportionality between the throwing of a stone at shielded policemen and the indiscriminate firing of guns on fleeing students, as has been alleged by first-hand eyewitnesses from the student and academic bodies of UDW. This contrasts markedly, for example, with the recent - considerably more violent - May Day demonstrations in London, where British police were able to assert themselves in a situation involving thousands of protestors without the possibility of recourse to firearm usage. The image of a second-year student laying in a pool of blood on the property of his campus of choice leaves a bitter taste, reminiscent of times and places that have shamed this country.

This situation cannot be allowed to repeat itself on any campus of our country.

Accordingly, in this increasingly tense situation, the NYC makes the following calls:

• that the administration of UDW reopens channels of negotiation and communication to resolve this crisis;
• that all parties work to ensure the reopening of the university as soon as possible;
• that student leaders actively work towards calm and restrain any student from actions which may be generally regarded as violent;
• that the relevant police authorities spell out their operational guidelines with regard to the handling of such situations;
• that the Independent Complaints Directorate specifically examine whether these guidelines - assuming they exist - were complied with;
• that these guidelines be made available to bodies like the National Youth Commission and the Human Rights Commission for review in terms of each's mandates under the law;
• that the NYC reserves the right to make recommendations to the President on such guidelines in terms of Section 3 (i) of the National Youth Commission Act.

The National Youth Policy specifically seeks to "ensure that a lack of personal finance does not prevent a young person from enrolling in higher education". Accordingly, the NYC calls on the government to speed up implementation of the Policy, particularly in relation to Section 8.1.3 pertaining to student financing:

• that the financial aid program for Further and Higher Education be strengthened, incorporating a revolving system of repayments into a national educational finance aid scheme;
• that a feasibility investigation be conducted into qualifying and offsetting student debt through internships and community service.

The increasingly cyclical situation regarding financial exclusions and deregistration means some urgency needs to be brought to finding sustainable solutions.

A good start would be for the parties at UDW to recognise their mutual interest in returning the campus to normality. There are many outside agencies - including the Department of Education and the National Youth Commission - which are mandated and willing - to assist in this regard.

The National Youth Commission is following the situation at UDW with close concern and members of our team are on standby to provide assistance where necessary in ensuring a return to normality at UDW.

Further enquiries? Please do not hesitate to contact NYC communications director Paul Johnson directly on Cell / Voicemail 082 770 0034.

ISSUED BY THE GCIS FOR THE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION (NYC)