Pretoria - Student leaders at both the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the University of Pretoria on Tuesday vowed not to disrupt the academic programme or shut down campuses until management had decided on fee increases for 2017.
However, their Unisa counterparts resolved to join other universities across the country, including Wits University, in demanding “free education”.
But at the University of Pretoria, student leaders said classes would continue as usual until further notice.
TUT students appeared to be divided on whether or not to shut down the campuses, but indicated there would be no further disruption.
Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande said on Monday that universities in the country could increase fees for 2017, but not by more than 8%.
He said government would assist households with an income of up to R600 000 per annum with subsidy funding to cover the gap between the 2015 fee and adjusted 2017 fee at the relevant institutions.
But this was not the news the students were waiting for, as they wanted free education.
And students at the TUT Arcadia and Arts campuses shut down both campuses as they were against the possible fee increment. They proceeded to Pretoria West campus to shut it down as well, but did not succeed. All they could do was disrupt classes briefly – but academic activities will return to normal on Wednesday.
“We made it clear last year that we do not want any form of increment but free education,” said Ntsindiso Noqhamza, of the Radical Student Movement at TUT.
He said they would not attend any classes until they were briefed by vice-chancellor and principal Lourens van Staden about the way forward.
The South African Students Congress (Sasco) dismissed the shutdown threat and forced leaders of other parties off the Pretoria West Campus.
“We met with the vice-chancellor on Monday and we were told to submit all issues, be it academic, housing, funding and the so-called missing middle so that we could start with negotiation,” said Monkie Maluleka, Sasco leader at TUT.
Maluleka said there would be no shutdown until consultations with management had been done.
SRC president at TUT, Andile Malefo, also urged students to continue with their academic programmes.
He said students must allow the university processes to unfold and give management time to implement principles and constitutions. “I am going to take the responsibility to ensure the safety of students."
Maluleka said those who missed tests due to disruptions must communicate with him and his team to ensure they had their fair chance of writing.
TUT spokeswoman Willa de Ruyter said the university welcomed the proposed fee support from government which would ensure that National Student Financial Aid Scheme qualifying students, as well as the missing middle, would not be exposed to fee adjustments next year.