The youth who are engaged in violent protests‚ burning schools and educational institutions are setting their own future aflame‚ President Jacob Zuma said during the centenary celebrations of Fort Hare university in the Eastern Cape.
“Students must reflect and think deeply about whose interest they are serving when they go all out to destroy their future and the future of their country. Burning schools‚ libraries and university buildings means burning the future‚ in simple terms. Is that our aim as we burn schools? I doubt. If we do so‚ history will judge those who burn universities‚ buildings and schools very harshly‚” Zuma said on Friday.
“There some who claim that people resort to violent protests because this is the language that government understands. Any analyst or leader who said that is completely mistaken and should reconsider his position‚” he added.
The celebrations were marred by protest action this week and students continued to protest even while proceedings continued in the main hall.
Fort Hare prides itself of producing some of the greatest leaders in Africa. Among them are Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe‚ Professor ZA Mathews‚ ANC leaders Govan Mbeki and Oliver Tambo‚ PAC leader Robert Sobukwe‚ former Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle‚ former president Nelson Mandela‚ SA Communist leader Chris Hani and former minister of social development‚ Zola Skweyiya.
Among the high-profile guests attending the celebrations are Mugabe and African Union Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
You are burning your future: Zuma tells student protesters
“Students must reflect and think deeply about whose interest they are serving when they go all out to destroy their future and the future of their country. Burning schools‚ libraries and university buildings means burning the future‚ in simple terms. Is that our aim as we burn schools? I doubt. If we do so‚ history will judge those who burn universities‚ buildings and schools very harshly‚” Zuma said on Friday.
“There some who claim that people resort to violent protests because this is the language that government understands. Any analyst or leader who said that is completely mistaken and should reconsider his position‚” he added.
The celebrations were marred by protest action this week and students continued to protest even while proceedings continued in the main hall.
Fort Hare prides itself of producing some of the greatest leaders in Africa. Among them are Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe‚ Professor ZA Mathews‚ ANC leaders Govan Mbeki and Oliver Tambo‚ PAC leader Robert Sobukwe‚ former Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle‚ former president Nelson Mandela‚ SA Communist leader Chris Hani and former minister of social development‚ Zola Skweyiya.
Among the high-profile guests attending the celebrations are Mugabe and African Union Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
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