Cape Town – The SA Union of Students (SAUS) has warned universities not to target student representative councils (SRC) during an expected national shutdown of 26 public universities and colleges today.
SAUS, which will be leading demonstrations, has instructed learning and all other operations to be halted today without any destruction to properties.
The move comes after an urgent meeting with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande at the weekend proved fruitless, they said, adding that the minister did not want to further engage with more SRCs.
At the heart of the issue is the exclusion of students who have historic debt from being allowed to register for the 2021 academic year.
According to SAUS student debt owed stands at R13 billion.
Meshack Mugabe, of SAUS, said: “The meeting expressed dismay that while nine universities are currently protesting, the minister refused to honour our invitation to meet with SRC members during a time of major crisis.
’’It is also clear to us that had the minister attended, a potential solution and agreement would have been reached to resolve these matters. It is therefore evident that the minister does not take his job seriously nor does he take SAUS, university SRC members and the students of this country seriously.”
The UCT Council has meanwhile approved the proposal by the executive for students with 2020 debt to be allowed to register in 2021.
Council chairperson Babalwa Ngonyama said the decision was taken on Saturday after a meeting.
“With immediate effect the student registration fee block in respect of 2020 debt will be lifted for South African students and students from the rest of Africa.
’’The lifting of the fee block for students from Africa is consistent with UCT’s Vision 2030, which positions it as a leading university in and for Africa,” said Ngonyama.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s spokesperson, Lauren Kansley, said the institution's management had been engaging with the SRC and their finance department to offer a range of debt-relief options.
“Some of these include a 10% reduction in outstanding residence fee bills. A commitment that no student who is academically deserving will be excluded and students in this position will need to sign an acknowledgement of debt form to continue.
’’Registration has been extended by two weeks to accommodate students who have not yet completed this process,” said Kansley.
Nzimande’s spokesperson, Ishmael Mnisi, said Higher Education Deputy Minister Buti Manamela had consulted Unisa and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
“Our responsibility was to respond to them and we did so.”
Cape Times