A POSTER wielded by protesting University of Johannesburg students read: “We want a bar!!”
The demand for a bar was accompanied by more serious demands, particularly for a lower fee increase.
The students have a point about the fee increase of 14%, which is more than twice inflation and which will make access to universities more difficult for those who don’t have bursaries.
It may also impact on the number of bursaries offered by donors.
But the demand for a bar seemed somehow to hint that the current wave of student protests are not to be taken too seriously.
It was not very long ago that students protested over restricted visiting hours in residences.
What is disturbing is how quickly these protests turn into violent encounters.
When students protested against Apartheid in the 1970s and 80s, it was almost inevitable that the state, desperate to enforce “normality” would overreact with force.
There were occasions during those protests when students were intimidated. When this occurred, student leaders spoke out against such behaviour and implored their supporters to remain disciplined.
This latest round of protests is not about Apartheid, it is about student fees. How can the intimidation of fellow students and the disruption of lectures be justified in such circumstances?
And, questions must be asked of the police. Is it really necessary to fire teargas and rubber bullets at protesting students.
Did they really pose a serious threat to anyone at the gates of the campus?
Student organisations need to learn the lesson that they will never win the hearts and minds of their constituents if they resort to physical attacks on their “enemies”.
Apartheid is dead and they should be struggling to improve the lot of students.

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