The Fees Must Fall protests have garnered rather a lot of negative reaction, strongly driven by the excessive violence demonstrated by a minority of students.

While many within the movement have condemned such acts, the rise of criminal activity is getting out of control – and the Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service is concerned.

Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane spoke to the press:

We are busy conducting an investigation. What is obviously of concern is that this is a clear indication that certain elements are not interested in protesting peacefully and still have an agenda to destroy property and commit acts of violence.

This kind of behaviour‚ including any form of intimidation‚ is strongly condemned. Such conduct of a criminal nature will be investigated and those responsible will be brought to book and processed through the criminal justice system of our country. Those who wish to protest peacefully must be free to do so and the same applies to those who want to attend class and complete the academic year.

He listed some of the more recent incidents seen across campuses:

• 12 petrol bombs and two 5 litre cans of petrol were found in a vacant garage on a university residence in Pietermaritzburg by security guards on Thursday.
• In Soweto at the University of Johannesburg campus‚ drugs were confiscated.
• At Rhodes University‚ hundreds of syringes were scattered across a public road.
• Two women at Kingsway campus on Thursday had to receive medical treatment after two males entered and discharged the contents of a fire extinguisher‚ during clashes between students who wanted to study and protesters.
• In the Western Cape‚ “incidents of throwing human faeces at vehicles and in the lecture halls is considered inappropriate and demeaning to all concerned.”

As per usual, SAPS members will arrest those who break the law‚ even though Phahlane believes that dialogue is the key to finding a solution agreeable to all:

It is evident that criminality and criminal elements have taken advantage of the young people in the universities under the disguise of supporting the #FeesMustFall initiative…

Young people are discouraged from making themselves guilty of any offence which will possibly have far-reaching implications on their future and employment opportunities since a criminal record will undoubtedly be a hindrance to them in their future endeavours.

Let’s hope things begin to settle down now, although I highly doubt they will.

[source:timeslive]