Pretoria - The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) in Pretoria has temporarily closed due to student protests.
“The NLSA’s Pretoria campus remains closed due to the protest action which directly threatened the Library, its collections and library users in the past week,” the national library said on Monday.
Students in the country have been protesting as they raise their call for free higher education.
“The NLSA’s assessment of the situation is that we cannot risk opening the Library under the current situation.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and will communicate any change of decision, should we be convinced that the threat of damage to the Library has been averted,” Professor Rocky Ralebipi-Simela said.
While the NLSA respects the right to protest it has condemned acts of violence, including the burning of the libraries and institutions of higher learning.
“When the libraries and institutions of higher learning go up in flames, the knowledge meant to be preserved for posterity is destroyed,” Professor Ralebipi-Simela said.
She said the NLSA remains resolute and adamant in its course to provide access to information to the people of South Africa and the world.
The NLSA wishes all students writing their end-of-year examinations, all of the best. – SAnews.gov.za
