Johannesburg – South Africa’s universities will extend the examination periods for students following days of protest against proposed tuition fee hikes.
A meeting between President Jacob Zuma, student leaders, Cabinet ministers, and vice chancellors was held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday as thousands of students gathered a few metres away, demanding no fee increases for 2016.
Witwatersrand University Vice Chancellor and Principal Adam Habib said the parties made various proposals to government.
These included the immediate establishment of a commission to look into restructuring the entire higher education system, including fee increases, subsidies and cost drivers, the presidential task team to attend to the plight of students in debt and increased funding for financial aid, and ensuring that poor students had free access to quality higher education.
Regarding issues affecting university staff, the parties proposed that a separate commission be established to address outsourcing practices regarding staff and services at the institutions.
“The meeting lasted several hours and after intense debate and deliberation between all stakeholders, President Zuma announced a zero percent increase in fees for 2016. University vice chancellors will extend the time for the examinations period to compensate for time lost.
“Long-term issues to be addressed include free education, institutional autonomy, racism, and what students call ‘black debt’,” said Habib.
The parties agreed that the task team would also look into transformation issues affecting higher education in the country.
Government committed to ensure that the arrested students would not be charged, he said.
Police fired rubber bullets at students and journalists outside the Union Buildings just after Zuma’s brief announcement, injuring several, including an ANA reporter. The march descended into chaos after protesters vandalised a section of the security fence and hurled rocks at police. The protesters had become agitated after waiting for hours in the blistering heat, expecting Zuma to address them.
A small group of students burnt about 10 portable toilets and tyres at the Union Buildings’ south lawns.
The students protested against proposed tuition fee increases for 2016, which started at Wits when the university’s management announced a 10.5 percent hike, and spread like wildfire to other tertiary institutions where classes and exams were eventually suspended.
The campaign drew local and international support, with #FeesMustFall trending for days on Twitter.
African News Agency
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