Acting Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka says it is imperative that students are in lecture halls at the beginning of each academic year, and not in the streets protesting for access to tertiary education.
Gcaleka, who has thrown her weight behind finding solutions for the ongoing financial struggles and protests by university students, said in a statement on Tuesday, that long-lasting solutions should be found to the student funding crisis.
She said the arrests and police brutality against students every time the academic year starts should stop.
Gcaleka and the provincial representative of the SA Human Rights Commission, Victor Mavhidula were at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou in Limpopo, where they “engaged management, student leadership and the campus office of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) as part of a series of such engagements scheduled for the next five weeks”.
Students return to studies as NMU protests end By Zamandulo Malonde and Simtembile Mgidi - 16 March 2021
It was back to business at Nelson Mandela University on Tuesday after fruitful meetings between student leaders and the university management on Monday.
The university s student leaders barricaded the entrance to NMU s south campus on Monday morning, responding to the SA Union of Students’ call for a national shutdown.
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Students vow to continue protests until demands to scrap debt, varsity fees are met
By Chulumanco Mahamba
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Johannesburg - South African university students have vowed to not retreat or surrender, as ongoing protests over tertiary funding continues across the country, threatening a national shutdown.
There appears to be no end for student protests, as students vowed to continue the fight for free higher education, as a national shutdown at institutions of higher learning looms today.
The students are calling for historic debts to be scrapped and free registration for all students in 2021, among other demands.
Last week, a 35-year-old government employee Mthokozisi Ntumba, an innocent bystander, was killed when police fired rubber bullets during a student protest in Braamfontein.
Expresses his extreme disappointment that the political
leadership is not present
17 March 12:50
Manamela wants the meeting to continue. There are several
stakeholders in the other meeting as well, making a postponement unfair.
Acting DG for universities will stay on for the portfolio
committee meeting
17 March 12:43
17 March 12:39 I don t what message that communicates to us.
17 March 12:38
17 March 12:30
17 March 12:28
17 March 12:22 Mugabe calls on Parliament to put all the stakeholders
together to find viable solutions over higher education
17 March 12:19
17 March 12:16
17 March 12:10
Some students do not have laptops, despite promises
17 March 12:07 Emphasises funding for the missing middle – those who are
excluded from funding, but cannot afford higher education
Photo: Fani Mahuntsi/Gallo Images
Nationwide protest action is expected after the SA Union of Students had a meeting with the higher education department to discuss its demands.
SRCs have raised concerns regarding financial exclusion.
Police spokesperson Vish Naidoo says police will be on high alert.
Mass protest action across the country is expected on Monday as students from 26 different universities plan on bringing all institutions to a standstill.
It comes after mounting concerns of financial exclusion raised by Student Representative Councils (SRC), who are calling for the immediate resignation of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande.
The nationwide action comes after the South African Union of Students (SAUS) had a meeting with the higher education department to discuss its demands.