Tertiary institutions across SA brace for planned national shutdown today The threats come after days of protests at various universities across the country last week. Wits University students protesting on 9 March 2021, over registration issues according to the student representative council. Picture: @Wits SRC/Twitter.
31 days ago
JOHANNESBURG - Tertiary education institutions across the country are bracing for a national shutdown planned from Monday threatening to delay the 2021 academic year.
The threats come after days of protests at various universities across the country last week.
At the centre of the dispute is for historic debt to be taken away.
Mthokozisi Ntumba, a father of four, was killed and many students were arrested during protests near Wits University last week.
Laher said during her year as an SRC member, she witnessed too many students battle against too many odds.
“We have been fighting for free education for the longest time. And it was something that was in the Freedom Charter and it was something that was promised to students by the government. There was a policy that was supposed to be implemented in 2013 in regards to free education and its now 2021 and it has not been implemented yet.
“The issue always comes down to free decolonised education.
“It’s a fight we should not stop because education shouldn’t be something that excludes.”
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.
Thulani Mbele, Gallo Images, Sowetan
When former president Jacob Zuma announced free higher education in December 2017, he knew the country couldn t afford it. Student protests are a direct result of his false expectations,
writes Adriaan Basson.
It is estimated that South Africa lost anything between R500 billion to R1.5 trillion during the state capture years of former president Jacob Zuma.
To give you some context: our entire budget for the country was R1.84 trillion last year. There’s more to this story Subscribe to News24 and get access to our
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