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20 May 2022


WATCH: Message to Qwaqwa Campus students from Executive Director for Student Affairs, Temba Hlasho


The frequency of the disruptive student protests that have occurred on the Qwaqwa Campus throughout the year has severely impacted the academic calendar, and has far-reaching consequences for students, Executive Director for Student Affairs, Temba Hlasho, warned.

 

Hlasho said as we draw nearer to the end of the first semester, the protests have placed a huge risk on the completion of the academic programme for students. Since the beginning of the academic year, several violent protests have marred the effective completion of academic activities, posing dire implications for faculties, especially the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

“Students participating in student protests should realise that they are compromising their qualifications,” he said.

Furthermore, Hlasho said NSFAS-funded students could have their funding for 2023 revoked if they did not meet the academic requirements. “You run the risk of not receiving funding to continue your studies in 2023 if you do not complete the academic year.”

The Qwaqwa Campus management has also appealed to students to keep the doors of learning open as we approach the exam season. Campus Principal, Dr Martin Mandew, said students should guard against losing a year of studies and should focus on what they need to achieve. “You have to craft your own future, nobody else will do that for you. A university degree is part of the tools you need to do this. Use this opportunity to focus on your studies, because this is your chance, and you might not get another one. The university will do its best to support you in achieving your dreams. This is your opportunity and time, use it wisely.”

News Archive

Q and A with Prof Hussein Solomon on ‘Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa’
2015-05-29

 

Political Science lecturer, Prof Hussein Solomon, has launched his latest book, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa: fighting insurgency from Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine and Boko Haram, on Wednesday 26 May 2015 at the UFS.

In his book, Solomon talks about the growing terrorist threat in Africa, with the likes of Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine, and Boko Haram exploiting Africa's vulnerabilities to expand their operations. Explaining both the limitations of current counter-terrorist strategies and possible future improvements, this timely study can be appreciated by scholars and practitioners alike.

Q: If you speak of Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine, and Boko Haram expanding operations, do you see possibilities for their expansion even into South Africa, or is expansion mainly focused on northern African countries?
 
A: All three movements are operating out of their respective countries. Al Shabaab has attacked Kenya and Uganda and tried to attack the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. So yes, there is a danger that they are here and, more importantly, newer groups like ISIS are recruiting in SA already.
 
Q: If the traditional military response is ineffective, what would be a better approach then?
 
A: What is important is that the force of arms needs to complement the force of ideas. What is being waged is an ideological battle, and, just as the West defeated Communism ideologically in the Cold War, we need to defeat radical Islamism ideologically. In addition, the military response needs to complement the governance and development responses.
 
Q: External players like the US have insufficient knowledge of the context, what would be the knowledge about context necessary for anyone concerned about the terror problem in Africa?
 
A: Allow me to give you some examples. The US trains African militaries to fight terrorist groups, but, when they return to their countries, they stage a coup and topple the civilian government. The US does not seem to understand that arming a predatory military and training them makes them more predatory and brutal, which results in civilians being recruited by terrorists, as happened in Mali. Similarly, the US sent arms to the Somali government, and members of that government sold those arms to Al Shabaab terrorists, the very people they were supposed to fight. So the Americans do not understand the criminalisation of the African state, which undermines good governance and promotes terrorism.

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