If you cannot use the word of mouth, use the strong hand

Universities strikes over these past two weeks have left the South African communities questioning themselves and parents shocked about what is happening about their children away. Beginning with the University Of Zululand strike which took two days and steered the university to close for two consecutive days and students driven out of campus, followed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) repeating the comparable story. All these actions are driven by unmet services by institutions’ management. If the student representative counsel is raising an issue on behalf of students, the management does not stem out with the solution. Then the SRC must apply other strategies than the Word of Mouth. The institution management fails to understand that students are clients, and moreover are a part of the university family. If a certain part or a client is raising an issue, that issue must be attended. If the management fails to understand that, the institution is reversing its plans of development inadvertently. In South Africa politicians usually says “vote and have your say”, if it does not work we then take a step further. It is used that if the management or a leader doesn’t want to listen we use the ‘strong hand’ accompanied, sometimes, by violence. Africa, mostly South Africa, had had enough with strikes and violence during strike. It is time now that leaders take some soluble actions about it. If the solution stemming takes time, make strikers understand why. These whole issues are strongly affecting our image as the university, community and the country at large.