Mr Speaker, I rise to emphasise the same point. While Cope is sympathetic to the plight of poor students who struggle against great odds to put themselves through university, it asks government not to condone disruptive acts by the SA Students Congress to bring learning at several universities to a complete standstill. The rights of educators at tertiary institutions to teach without intimidation and of learners to attend lectures without hindrance should be sacrosanct and fully protected.
Sasco is within its right to criticise President Jacob Zuma for paying too little attention to education and to the plight of the poor during his state of the nation address last month. It is also within its rights to demonstrate peacefully or to stage an orderly march to Parliament to hand over a memorandum.
Sasco, however, does not have the right to bring campuses to a standstill, and Minister Nzimande and the government should make this abundantly clear. Thank you. [Applause.]