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NMMU doesn’t resume normal operations

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After announcing that normal operations would commence on Friday 7 October and lectures on Monday 10 October 2016 the NMMU has had to retract saying: “Unfortunately, the situation on our North and South campuses became volatile today. As a result, we are reluctant to immediately go ahead with the resumption of classes given our concerns for the safety of staff and students. Therefore, the University will remain closed on Monday.”

Related: #FeesMustFall: NMMU determined to resume university operations | Student response to resumption of academic year at #NMMU

Editor: Let us pause and examine some of the long term consequences:

  • The FMF movement has polarised and politicised their call to the detriment of the one pure message
  • Different factions all want their 5 minutes of fame and have lost the purity of focus needed to successfully bring their demands to fruition
  • A minority now holds sway over a majority
  • Foreign students will not choose to study in SA and we will lose valuable foreign exchange
  • ALL students who graduate (eventually) over the next three or four years will be tarred with the stink of FMF
  • The unnecessary polarisation of this cause will have severe long term consequences for South Africa
  • Those who can afford it will study overseas and be lost to our country
  • Student Accommodation providers are losing out as are supermarkets, pubs, restaurants, petrol stations, and the like
  • Sport and Cultural fees will either increase radically or Cinderella sports and activities will be cut from the programme
  • Lecturers will resign as pressure on salaries increases
  • Those lecturers in scarce and in demand subjects will leave and create a huge vacuum
  • Prospective employers WILL discriminate against any student who took part in FMF or graduate for the next couple of years
  • What will happen to those who expected to graduate this year and have signed job contracts?
  • The FMF is managing to cheapen the efforts of every graduate before them
  • Most mind blowing of all is that the FMF does not seem to understand basic economics: More jobs = More tax.  Instability in the country (by supposedly intelligent students burning, looting and acting like babies) keeps tourists and investment out. Less tourists and investment = Less jobs. Less Jobs = Less Tax. Less Tax = Less money to provide free education.
  • We cannot afford another scar like 1976 on our collective consciousness.
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.