Just imagine if protesters torched Rivonia trial documents: Nzimande

What if the transcripts of the Rivonia Trial housed at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Library were destroyed in the violence that has wracked campuses in recent weeks?

The ministers of higher education and police faced that question when they were shown the papers during a visit to Wits on Monday.

"It was a touching moment when we were shown the historically significant collection of the Rivonia Trial papers‚ which could be the only set still in existence in the country‚” Dr Blade Nzimande and Nkosinathi Nhleko said in a joint statement following the visit.

"Just imagine if acts of criminality‚ such as those that have been witnessed on some campuses‚ were to result in the irreparable loss of this invaluable heritage.

"This is why there is an urgent need for police intervention where required and necessary in our country's universities and colleges‚ and also the reason why we fully support the additional security measures that universities have regrettably have to put in place — money that could be better spent on teaching and research.”

The pair “agreed that the current destruction of national assets on campuses‚ that is crucial to the empowerment of the next generation of South Africans‚ must stop at once”‚ the statement said.

They reportedly also agreed that while order without “the interventions of law enforcement agencies” would be preferable‚ “in instances of criminality” they “must intervene firmly without fear or favour”.

"As we take all these necessary measures‚ I want to stress that universities must and will remain open to dialogue with students‚ as will the Ministry of Higher Education and Training‚ but lawlessness of any kind will not be tolerated.”