The Fees Must Fall movement in South Africa was a focal point in the South African post-apartheid and the democracy era. The movement challenged the legacy of apartheid and failures of the new democratic dispensation. The democratic dispensation failed to resolve the disparities created by colonialism and apartheid in the higher education sector. These disparities and injustices happen under the African National Congress led government which declared itself the sole custodian of the Freedom Charter which champions the fundamental right to education. It also declared itself the leader of the society in South Africa. This right is also declared inside the Republic of South African Constitution of 1998. The protests were widespread where student protestors were demanding free tertiary and decolonised higher education sector. The other matters the protestors brought to the fore was the slow pace of transformation at universities and the undermining of indigenous knowledge systems.
The flipside of things comes when the protests aimed to address legitimate concerns about free education and transformation related matters turned violent and ugly. The protests were characterised by violence, students’ hooliganism, and destruction of universities’ property.
The Lucifer Effect theory, which explores the transformation of ordinary individuals into perpetrators of evil actions, provides a significant background for insight into the students’ violent protests, hooliganism, and destruction of property.
THE LUCIFER EFFECT THEORY
This theory was developed by Philip Zimbardo, he espouses that normal, average, well-mannered students may or can turn into or convert into violent student protestors, characterised by hooliganism and destruction of property. This happens because of situational situations that engulf students’ individual values, belief systems and the good moral upbringings. This theory’s focal point is the influential force of situational forces in converting students and the value of mastering the contextual factors that contributed to violent student behaviour.
THE THEORY’S VERSUS THE FEES MUST FALL PROTESTS
The Lucifer Effect theory can assist in contextualisation the conversion from peaceful protests into violent students protests. Several situational factors contributed to this transformation. The protests often involved large groups of students, which can create a sense of anonymity and diversion of responsibility. This can lead individuals to engage in behaviour that they would never commit if they were alone. The protests were often characterised by emotions that included anger, irritation, and fear. This emotional state can weaken normal thinking and enhance the likelihood of spontaneous and irrational conduct.
The honouring of the protest by high profile non-student political figures also reshaped the normal protests to more erratic and violent protests. This happens when such figures do not condemn the violent students protests. It is tantamount to a feeling of social endorsement and acceptance of the current situation. The protesters may even think or feel that they cannot be caught or punished for their actions.
The consequences of the Lucifer effect on violent students protests, hooliganism and destruction to property have led to damage to property, many students were injured, some students were arrested, it led to divisions within the South African student political organisations along national political lines, within the university communities, and the public at large.
CONCLUSSION
The theory outlines a worthy framework for understanding the violent behaviour that engulfed the Fees Must Fall protests and other related protests at South African universities. The theory makes us to have a nuanced comprehension of the difficult interchange between students and situational dynamics.
By
Dr Sefoko Ramoshaba
Founder of Social Justice and Leadership Institute (Special Projects)
www.sjli.co.za
tlouyaphokojweng@gmail.com
