Cde Lulama Ngcukayitobi-ANC Provincial Secretary
Alice
The Eastern Cape Provincial Alliance, comprising the African National Congress (ANC), South African Communist Party (SACP), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), recently convened its secretariat to reflect on the unfolding crisis at the University of Fort Hare, an institution that holds a proud place in the history of liberation and in the collective consciousness of the African people.
In a statement the alliance said Fort Hare is not just a university, it is a living monument of struggle and empowerment, a home of leaders, thinkers, and activists who changed the course of our nation and continent. What happens within its walls is therefore of great concern to the entire democratic movement.
The Alliance said it affirms and defends the constitutional right of students, workers, and communities to protest, to organise, and to demand accountability. The right to protest is part of our hard-won democracy, born out of generations who dared to challenge oppression and exclusion. The Alliance believes that no one should be criminalised for raising legitimate concerns.
At the same time, the Alliance strongly condemns violence, vandalism and destruction of property. Acts of violence weaken the very cause they seek to advance and rob the poor of the infrastructure that serves them. Fort Hare belongs to the people, its destruction is an injury to all who look to education as a pathway out of poverty and inequality.
Speaking on behalf of the Alliance Cde Lulama Ngcukayitobi -ANC Provincial Secretary said, “The current developments at Fort Hare point to deep-rooted governance challenges and unresolved tensions that have long undermined stability and progress at this historic institution. The Alliance calls for decisive, transparent and inclusive leadership to confront these issues head-on and restore confidence in the institution’s management.
“The Alliance further calls on all stakeholders, including management, students, workers, and government to act with urgency and responsibility to protect the 2025 academic year. Losing this year would be a devastating blow to thousands of students and families across our province and beyond.
“We reiterate that Fort Hare must be governed by its own statutes and policies applied equally to all without fear or favour. No individual no matter their position is above the institution.”
The Alliance said it stands firm in support of students’ democratic right to freely elect their own representatives, without interference or imposition. According to the Alliance Student leadership must emerge from the will of the student body, not through administrative manipulation or selective recognition.
In this regard, the Alliance calls upon the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation , Cde Buti Manamela to institute an independent and credible investigation into the root causes of the crisis. The situation has reached a point where the intervention of national government is both necessary and urgent to ensure that Fort Hare is not allowed to slide further into instability.
The Alliance also urged the University Council and Management to open genuine channels of dialogue with students and workers, guided by the principles of mutual respect, fairness, and accountability. It is only through engagement not confrontation that sustainable solutions can be found.
The Eastern Cape Alliance said it remains committed to the defence of democratic gains, the transformation of higher education, and the protection of institutions that serve as engines of empowerment for the people. Fort Hare must once again become a beacon of hope, academic excellence, and social justice.
