Johannesburg – Lectures at Johannesburg’s Witwatersrand University would remain suspended until next week, the university said on Tuesday.
“The University acknowledges that there has been a call for a national day of solidarity to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 21 October 2015. Wits also recognises the need to allow time for the necessary negotiations to take place to resolve the current situation,” the institution said in a statement.
“In order to ensure the safety and security of our staff and students, the executive management has decided to suspend all University activities for the remainder of this week.”
The university urged students to make use of the rest of the week and prepare for examinations.
The students intensified their protest this week against the proposed 10.5 percent tuition fee increase for 2016 by taking to the streets of Braamfontein and to other surrounding campuses.
An announcement by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande that the 2016 fee increase would be capped at 6 percent was rejected.
Incoming Student Representative Council (SRC) president Nompendulo Mkatshwa said as much as they heard the announcement, saying students would not compromise on the demand for no increase.
“We’ve been clear that we do not want an increase…we reject that six percent. Wits students will be in the Solomon House, which is academically known as Senate House tonight, having political discussions and also studying. The fight against no fee increase continues,” said Mkatshwa.
The announcement of the fee cap came after a meeting Nzimande held with university vice chancellors to discuss the fee hike issue.
African News Agency
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