Universities are, potentially, wonderful institutions dedicated to learning, research and development.
The work done there is central to improving our world.
It teaches our youth to think and to problem solve and feeds their thirst for knowledge, advancement, self-reliance and, hopefully, a desire to benefit others with the insights gained.
Research at universities contributes to knowledge about our world, how to improve and preserve it.
It contributes to human wellbeing through medical and vaccine research.
There is crop and farming research aimed at combating hunger, growing agricultural economies and so much more.
They are repositories of our history, proclaimers of our indigenous knowledge systems, preservers of art and promoters of thought.
Over years, particularly in Africa, these institutions have become revered.
In SA, there has been a deliberate strategy to do away with the “ivory tower” model and to steep universities into the communities they serve so that the impact of their work is not just felt globally, but also locally.
But somewhere, something has gone horribly wrong, particularly with the historically disadvantaged universities that have a particularly important role to play.
In 1994, the ANC government promised to turn the fragmented, inefficient and inequitable university system of the apartheid era into one of equality and excellence.
This meant increasing funding to the historically disadvantaged universities.
In 2022, enough progress had been made that the so-called Historically Disadvantaged Institutions Development Grant was renamed the Sibusiso Bengu Development Programme (SB-DP).
The government constantly brags how it has opened up access to universities for so many.
As suggested in the name, it would continue to be used to further develop these institutions into what former higher education minister Blade Nzimande termed “citadels of excellence”.
So how is it that these citadels have become neglected and dilapidated?
Why is it that students turn to violence to make their voices heard.
The horrific incident at Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha campus where students protesting their terrible residence conditions were allegedly shot at by a staff member is just one of many incidents that have happened over the past few years.
The government constantly brags how it has opened up access to universities for so many.
But, it means little if these spaces are physically unsuitable for their purpose and run by administrators who seem utterly incapable of growing them in the right direction.
Premier Oscar Mabuyane said this week that it was vital for democracy to develop a strong, capable, ethical and developmental state.
If our universities are to fulfil their noble function, they too have to become capable, ethical, developmental and safe spaces for those who attend them.
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