More than 30 years after the 1976 Soweto Student Uprisings, student protests in South Africa are still marked by violence and vandalism. Does this form of protest still have a place in democratic South Africa? Cape Peninsula University of Technology students Hadlee Simons and Lindiwe Mlandu argue it out... in a civilised fashion, of course!

Hadlee Simons reckons that because of South Africa's protest history, protests marked by chaos are the only protests that are actually going to be heard...

The journalism PC lab in the CPUT campus is punctuated by the sounds of keyboard clacking and printer whirring. And then: "Okay, you guys are going to have to finish up now, the students from the Cape Town campus are here," the administrator says nonchalantly.

This is the reality of campus life following our year-long internships, but we know it's for a good cause. The students of CPUT are wily and smart — knowing exactly how to get what they want from authorities. Sure, one could try a passive, quiet protest but when has that ever worked?

Even the ANC resorted to violence in its attempt to overthrow the Apartheid regime. These students have learnt from the mistakes of their forefathers and decided to take the easiest route. And, while it might not be the best move in the long term, it guarantees results. The same cannot be said for the ongoing (but passive) doctors' strikes.

It isn't hard to draw comparisons between the students of 1976 and the students of 2009. Both groups are fighting for the right to empower themselves through education. Both groups could've accepted their designated fate and just given up — but they didn't.

Accepting our designated fate is something that we, as Africans, have been doing for far too long. The advent of democracy should've brought with it a gradual change — the realisation of the dream of 1976. Instead, democracy brought with it the expansion of capitalism in strong enough doses to marginalise the masses. And, at their wits' end as a result of a government that has failed them, the students have resorted to the now time-honoured tradition of causing chaos.

Will they realise their goal of averting a 60% increase in registration fees? If recent protests such as the 2010 construction worker strike and the municipal strike are anything to go by, then the answer is yes.

And when the arrests have been made and the stones cleared, the students of CPUT will have accomplished something that seems to have eluded the current government — positive social change.

Lindiwe Mlandu reckons that the excuse of a violent past is overrated and that young South Africans need to start thinking about their future...

Education is vital in our society and so is discipline. The recent spate of protests at Cape Peninsula University of Technology campuses was demeaning. Against their wishes, students were forced out of their classes to join the protesting students.

The so-called students were protesting against the proposed 60 percent hike in fees, but the images that emerged were those of students stealing food from the management offices, while wreaking havoc in their campuses.

The protesting students broke down doors at one of the student residences and one student jumped out of her window and was severely injured. What transpired was hooliganism disguised as protests.

The instigators forced everyone to be part of the protest. Clearly, they have forgotten that in a democratic country people are free to make up their own minds.

Our nation needs to stop associating vandalism with protests. The students' grievances were valid, but the way they handled them was not. If they want to be taken seriously they must change their behavior. There are acceptable ways of doing things and protesters must follow the right channels.

It is because of irresponsible citizens like these that our country is going to the dogs. The right to protest is a right of every citizen, but damaging property is illegal. The excuse that we have a violent past is overrated.

Students are our future leaders and judging from their actions, we are heading towards a messed-up society that doesn't know how to engage on a mature and reasonable level. We have the ability to change the mentality that protests have to be violent in order to be effective. We have the ability to start behaving in a civilized manner. And if we don't, we only fail ourselves.

Do you agree with Hadlee or Lindiwe? Share your thoughts below!

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