The community of Limpopo must stand up to the University of North SRC members, calling them to account for the burning down of their facility, the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Dr Molefe Tsele said in a statement today.

Tsele was responding to the burning down of university's security office accounting for damages running into several millions of rands. In defence of their action, the SRC body claimed they resorted to violence after being attacked by the local security guards.

"No amount of explanation can wish away the sad fact that the people's facility had been extensively damaged. If there are grievances, let these be resolved without resorting to violence, " Tsele said in statement.

He said the university belonged to the people of Limpopo, and that when acts of vandalism occurred, it was important that they whole community begin to question the motives of the action.

"We have moved on to democratise our country. It is incumbent upon the executive of the SRC to engage the university's management when there are different points of view on any matter, and we believe that this is a route that the student body should have exploited rather than burning a section of the university's property," said Tsele.

Turning to the Congress of South Students (Cosas), Tsele said the SACC is saddened by Cosas, march in Johannesburg last week that was neither peaceful nor constructive.

"When these things happen, we have to unflinchingly condemn them as churches, civil society, and government. We cannot afford to have a situation where ordinary hawkers making an honest living having their goods damaged by people who are pushing an unclear agenda. We have to help build our democracy and a new society with a new set of values," the SACC said in a statement.

Issued by
FATHER JOE MDHLELA
Head: Communications
28 May 2002