#Fees2017: Wits students threaten shutdown

Wits students protested against looming fee increases on Monday, and threatened to shut down the university.

Wits students protested against looming fee increases on Monday, and threatened to shut down the university.

Published Sep 19, 2016

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Johannesburg - Students at Gauteng’s Witwatersand University on Monday threatened to shut down the campus in protest at looming tuition fee increases for 2017.

The students said they had made it clear that there should be no fee increase until government implemented free higher education.

“We will shut down and we’re not playing. Our parents cannot afford the thousands of rands needed for fees every year. There is money… government has money to fund education, that money is unfortunately being misused at Nkandla, SAA (South African Airways) and many more places,” said student Bonke Ngcuka.

Her friend Zita Tshawana said it was irritating to have to fight against fee increases every year.

“It is useless to have to fight every year. They have heard our plight but still push for an increase, forcing us to protest again and again. They said there is no money? Then they must cut down on their wasteful spending of millions and shift that to education,” Tshawana said.

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announced on Monday that it was up to universities to set their own 2017 fee increases, provided the increment was no higher than eight percent.

Police presence at Wits had increased by mid morning when student leaders went to lecture halls, mobilising students to take part in the shut down.

The students sang revolutionary songs and chanted around the campus. Some groups blocked entrances preventing vehicles from accessing the campus.

African News Agency

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