GOOD Statement by Kaden Arguile,
GOOD National Youth Chairperson
17 April 2025
The unfolding situation at Walter Sisulu University once again highlights the urgent need for reform in how protests are managed on university campuses. A decade has passed since the #FeesMustFall movement gripped the nation, yet many institutions still lack clear, compassionate, and effective protocols to protect both student voices and campus safety. While private security has an important role in ensuring the safety of people and property, it is crucial to remember that they are not law enforcement, nor should they act as such.
Allegations that private security personnel raided student residences and injured at least 15 students are deeply disturbing. No dispute at an institution of higher learning should ever escalate to violence, intimidation, or bloodshed.
The absence of open and consistent communication between university leadership, student representatives, and security personnel is a dangerous gap that must be addressed as a matter of urgency. The current climate demands clear protocols that prioritize de-escalation, mediation, and respect for human rights.
As protests continue at WSU, we must recognize the difficult position private security finds itself in but order must never come at the expense of justice and dignity. Universities are not battlegrounds. They are spaces for education, critical thinking, and engagement.
As the GOOD movement, we continue to call for calm, sensitivity, and bold leadership. We urge the university’s administration to engage with students transparently and act with compassion, accountability, and urgency to restore peace and trust on campus.
We must learn from the painful lessons of the past. It cannot be protest as usual. Change must be embraced, not resisted, by those in leadership.
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