Tuks principal needs security escort

The vice-chancellor of the University of Pretoria had to be escorted off campus when students bayed for her blood.

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Pretoria - The principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Pretoria, Cheryl de la Rey, had to be escorted by campus security when students bayed for her blood as the #FeesMustFall campaign hit the capital on Tuesday afternoon.

De la Rey, who was expected to respond to a memorandum, hit a sour note when she insisted on meeting student leaders instead of giving answers in public. She was addressing the students inside the amphitheatre when they became disruptive, chanting: “Sies, sies, sies!”

“We would like to indicate that we have agreed to meet the student leaders to discuss issues raised in the memorandum.

“We are prepared to engage with them to find a solution,” she told thousands of students.

The demands included free education, no registration fees, zero percent fee increase, and no interest rate on fees owed by students.

The university management had proposed the registration fee increasing from R5 000 to R7 500 during 2016.

There was calm at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, where students did not participate in the nationwide shutdown, but carried on with their exams.

There was also no protest at Unisa, where students were busy with examinations.

At the Tshwane University of Technology, students gathered at the campus in the morning, chanting slogans denouncing the proposed fee increases.

Pretoria News

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