ACDP response to Student unrest

ACDP response to Student unrest - MEDIA RELEASE 20 Feb 2008

Students protest at TUT campus - ACDP response to Student unrest

"The time has come for unrest and protests to cease from being part of student life on our campuses." So said Cllr. AnneMarie Sparg, from the ACDP, in response to the newest student protests on the TUT campus.

"Even though we have sympathy for the situation of these students, especially those that are poor, who suffer under the financial demands from our universities and other institutions of higher learning," she added, "anarchy and violence remain unacceptable as a means to manipulate authority into compliance.

"We call on these students to follow proper procedure to raise their complaints, if their memorandum does not have the desired effects at the cut off time tomorrow. According to reports, a door had already been broken, even before the protest became violent. This type of 'break through' certainly does not seem peaceful.

"It is time for the leaders of this protest to show that they truly are leaders, and to bring calm and order among the protesters!"

AnneMarie Sparg
ACDP Councillor Tshwane Metro

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Studente betoging by TUT kampus - ACDP reageer

"Dit is nou hoog tyd dat onluste en onrus nie meer deel van die studentelewe sal wees nie," sê ACDP raadslid me. AnneMarie Sparg in reaksie op die jongste studenteprotes op die TUT-kampus.

"Al het ons dikwels simpatie met veral die arm studente wat noustrop trek onder die las van geldelike verpligtinge by universiteite en ander hoër onderwysinrgtings, bly wanordelikheid en geweld nie 'n aanvaarbare wyse van optrede nie.

"Ons versoek die studente dus om hul klagtes deur die regte kanale te voer as hul memorandum môre, met die spertyd, nie die gewenste reaksie oplewer nie. Daar is na berig reeds 'n deur gebreek nog voordat die protes nog gewelddadig geword het. Hierdie soort 'deurbraak' klink nie vir ons baie vreed saam nie.

"Dit is tyd dat die leiers van die protes bewys dat hulle wel leiers is, en vrede en kalmte bring tussen die protesteerders!"

AnneMarie Sparg
ACDP Raadslid Tshwane Metro