FALSE HOPE AND PROMISE

 ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe believes that universities should shut down for up to a year if students fee protests continue.

On its face, one can understand Mantashe's outburst.  His ANC government is in the grips of a student revolt that he and his party comrades are are at loss what to do next - a scenario of damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Shutting down universities would, according to Mantashe, bring protesting students to their senses.  A simplistic and myopic reaction to a problem that has been festering for decades. A problem which the ANC elite has purposely neglected, paraphrasing  Mantashe, to deepen the crisis before solving it.  A radical approach that will only stoke the fires of student rage and reinforce implacable resistance to reasoned compromise.

The born-free generation was handed false hope and  promise of "A Better Life For All"', but instead are captives to an endless cycle of poverty and exclusion.  They have finally realized that the ANC government sold them a bill of goods which never pays off.

The clarion call of battle trumpets will continue to be heard, despite the deployment of stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets.  It has little impact in drowning out a clear message to government from students: "we have been patient, given you plenty of chances; we have finally learned that your promise of a better life was bogus; no more!"