Student protests: 5 things you need to know
With the call for a #NationalShutDown today, here are the things you need to know about the student protest action...
|||South Africa is engulfed in a wave of student protests and with the call for a #NationalShutDown on Wednesday, here are the things you need to know about this protest action....
1. It's spreading fast
Fourteen higher education institutions across seven provinces are currently embarking on protest action. Reports from other news agencies allude to matric pupils in Gauteng also mobilising to join the protest. Having initially started off in KZN a few weeks ago, the protests spread rapidly across the country with all of South Africa's major universities now part of the action.
2. So what's their gripe?
The students are protesting over the increase of university fees which will see most of them paying over 10% more for the 2016 academic year. They have also taken exception to some universities imposing higher registration fees and a shortage of funding by NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme).
3. What has been the effect of the protests thus far?
The students have managed to draw attention and solidarity on a national level. This sort of mass mobilisation by students was last seen in South Africa during the height of apartheid in the 70s and 80s. The action has also united students of different race groups. However, reports of looting , violence and intimidation have also been a familiar sight.
4. What is government saying?
Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande proposed a 6% cap on university fee increases for 2016 and urged students to accept the offer. He has been locked in discussions with university management to find a solution to the impasse. A presidential task team is also looking into how to end the protest.
5. Who are the role-players ?
SRCs: SRCs at various universities have put their political differences aside and are standing together.
University management: They claim that government funding is not enough for them to cope with rising expenses.
NSFAS: The organisation tasked with funding students appears to be in a state of disarray with an investigation into its affairs being conducted.
Government: The issues of universities fall squarely under the responsibility of the Department of Higher Education and Training. They have been locked in discussions with university management to find solutions.
IOL MOJO
* E-mail your opinion to IOLletters@inl.co.za and we will consider it for publication or use our Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.