Johannesburg - Students across the country want to shut down all higher education institutions by Friday over the planned fee increases.
Student leaders confirmed on Tuesday that the ongoing protests across major university campuses have been planned to force institutions and the government to reconsider the fee increments and outsourcing of workers.
The campaign to close the institutions is being led by the movements #FeesMustFall and #EndOutSourcing, together with the student representative councils (SRCs).
“We are communicating as student leaders across all campuses. We are fighting for free education in our lifetime. As students, we have tried to engage institutions but they don’t want to listen. If we close all campuses, then Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande will notice and take our demands seriously,” Brian Kamanzi of #FeesMustFall and #EndOutSourcing said.
Students have rejected an agreement between Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and managements of universities, saying they will continue protesting until there is a “no fees” deal.
On Tuesday, Nzimande and universities agreed on a compromise to cap the 2016 university fees at 6 percent.
But student groups rejected the fee hike on Tuesday night and vowed to continue with their protests for a “no fees” agreement.
Since last week there have been protests over the proposed increases in fees at Wits University, as well as the universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, KwaZulu-Natal, Rhodes and Fort Hare.
#FeesMustFall and #EndOutSourcing said they were mobilising students at North West University’s Potchefstroom campus, among others, to join the protests. The University of Johannesburg and University of Pretoria were expected to begin protests on Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday night, the University of Pretoria announced that all academic activities had been suspended at its campuses. The move was to allow “peaceful engagement on key issues affecting the institution”, according to management. They said all exams and tests would be rescheduled.
Students across all campuses are not only calling for zero fee increments but are also demanding that the institutions stop outsourcing workers such as cleaners and gardeners. They demand that the workers be employed directly by the universities.
Most of these workers have also joined the protests. When students shut down the Wits Medical School in Parktown yesterday, cleaners were part of the group.
One cleaner said she earns R2 700 a month. “How can I afford the fees at Wits with that much? When we ask Professor Adam Habib (Wits vice-chancellor and principal) for a pay rise, he says we must study and teach at Wits so we can afford the fees. How can I afford to study when I can’t even pay for my child’s fees?” the cleaner asked.
The Wits Medical School campus was the only one that still operated since the fee protests started last week.
While protesters were dancing and singing outside the campus, a motorist in a car tried to run over the students.
This was the second time a car had tried to run over students this week.
On Monday, a man tried to run them over on Empire Road. His car had its windscreen smashed before it was overturned.
Wits University’s incoming SRC president, Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, encouraged students who were gathered at the entrances of the medical and education campuses not to lose hope as they would win the fight.
“We are very sober comrades and we know what we are fighting for. We will remain non-violent. Tonight we will have a mass study session,” he said.
For the study session, she encouraged students to bring air mattresses, food, water and their books.
Students and staff members marched from Parktown to Braamfontein, where the study session and a concert by singer Simphiwe Dana was to take place.
A statement by 46 Wits academic staff members released on Tuesday indicated that they support students.
“We are concerned at the lack of leadership shown by the management of Wits University, including its council, the vice-chancellor and deputy vice-chancellors, in addressing the critical concerns raised by students.
“We believe this has unnecessarily exacerbated tension between students and management, led to the potential for violence against students and created unsafe conditions on campus,” the statement read.
Wits spokeswoman Shirona Patel said academic activities had been suspended until Monday. “Management is trying to get student leaders to come to the table to negotiate.” - Additional reporting by Quinton Mtyala
The Star
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