By: Lucky Khanyile

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa lambasted the apartheid government for being ‘evil’ by denying people good quality education in the opening of the 2nd Higher Education Summit on
Thursday.

In the three-day Higher Education Summit held at the International Convection Centre, Ramaphosa declared the apartheid government as the ‘misrulers’ for denying majority of the South
Africans.

Ramaphosa is certain that South Africa would be today on a completely different developmental trajectory.

“If those misrulers of our country who’ve held our people, our country and our economy back have not been so thorough, methodical and evil – our economy would be operating on the
same level as the better economies of the world,” said Ramaphosa.

He said that the greatest crime ever to be committed against South Africans is apartheid education.

“South Africans are not stupid, they are clever, South Africans have good brains, it is those misrulers who held us back,” said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa urged higher education sector to wage war against what he calls a devastating legacy in the country.

He also urged everyone involved in the summit to play a role in eliminating this issue.

“We have this terrible past that was imposed on our people and our country, but all of us here are well endowed with education, skills, knowledge, our freedom charter, constitution and
aspiration.

We therefore, collectively – Minister of Higher Education [Blade Nzimande] sitting here, have this amazing opportunity of crafting and shaping the future of our country,” he added.

Ramaphosa is aware of the recent call for ‘free education for all’ from primary to university.

He said that even though the country is facing financial constraints just like most countries, this in his books is achievable.