AfriForum Tuks members say they will defend themselves

AfriForum Tuks says it will do everything in its power to protect Afrikaans students at the University of Pretoria (UP) and their rights‚ and that the student organisation already has safety structures in place that can be deployed when students are in danger.

The organisation is also looking at ways to ensure students’ right to education‚ as well as education in Afrikaans‚ it said.

It added that this followed statements by the EFF that it would make the University of Pretoria ungovernable if it failed to cease Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.

“During the #FeesMustFall protests in October 2015‚ protestors disrupted classes and violently chased students out of classrooms. These students were stripped of their right to education and AfriForum Youth is of the opinion that the University neglected to protect students sufficiently‚” said Morné Mostert‚ national project coordinator for AfriForum Youth.

“Students have the right to defend themselves. AfriForum Youth will support any students who defend themselves against protestors and are subsequently sued‚” Mostert added.

He said AfriForum Youth had submitted a letter to UP’s management about two weeks ago in which the organisation had warned the university of a possible attack on Afrikaans students.

“AfriForum Tuks will monitor the situation in the meantime.”