South Africa¡¯s higher education minister has called on the country¡¯s vice-chancellors to meet to discuss how to end violence on campus, following reports of stabbings and ¡°mob justice¡± at two institutions.

During the weekend of 15-16 September, a student was assaulted by a mob after he was accused of murdering a fellow student at the University of Zululand, and a student was stabbed to death at the University of KwaZulu-Natal¡¯s Westville campus,??reported. Two arrests have been made since.

The minister, Naledi Pandor, condemned the violence and said something must be done to ensure students ¡°don¡¯t use violence as a means of resolving any problem¡±.

She said: ¡°I am calling an urgent meeting with Universities South Africa. With the vice-chancellors, we will put our heads together to address the deep challenges that are confronting young people.¡±

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Ms Pandor added: ¡°There is no excuse for violence¡­we need to do more about educating young people and society broadly about how you deal with conflict.¡±

Ms Pandor said?that she was working with the minister for policing?to put together a policy on violence and abuse on campus for universities to adopt. ¡°I need to continue the deliberations with the minister of police to enhance security on campuses,¡± she said.

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¡°Student organisations must certainly grapple with this matter, but also this is crime ¨C murder is crime, assault is crime. Students need to be alert to the fact that we will not tolerate crime on our campuses.¡±

anna.mckie@timeshighereducation.com