Students speak out after #FeesMustFall protests

THE dust has settled at tertiary institutes around Durban after the robust #FeesMustFall student protests last week, which culminated in president Jacob Zuma making the vital announcement on Friday afternoon that student fees for 2016 would not increase.

While some students felt strongly about the protest action putting unnecessary pressure on students ahead of finals exams, many expressed to Berea Mail that the ends justifies the means.

Bridget Napier, a first year Food and Nutrition student at DUT said, “I wasn't involved in the protests because I didn't feel strongly about it especially since my exam on Thursday was cancelled because of it. This has really thrown my plans off as I was supposed to work this week which is our holiday, but now have to write exams. I also feel not everyone can be educated for free, it's not sustainable for the country.”

Craig Bloem, a third year Video Tech student at DUT, felt the campaign was an important one. “Government needed to take this issue seriously but I think it was blown out of proportion in other provinces where students didn't respect the laws governing South Africa and other students that were not involved in the protests. Government promised free education when they came into power so they need to quell the students' demands.”

Mandisa Dube, a third year Public Management student at DUT said there were two sides to the protests. “On one hand many students were affected because exams were postponed at the last minute because of it, but we need to think about the future children coming to campus and the long term goal. The more than R5000 increase proposed was too much. So as much as it was a disturbance to the exams, I feel it was worth it. I'm happy it was peaceful, didn't turn violent and students didn't destroy anything.”

Prenisha Govender, a first year Industrial Engineering student at DUT said she was happy with the campaign and the results. “Most of us struggle to pay normal fees so I'm glad it happened because it benefits us all. There were major disruptions to exams but it was for the greater good because that hike would have been too much for our parents to manage. I would have loved to be part of the protests but I live out of town and my lift club said they were leaving.”

Mbasa Faku, a BTech Cost Management and Accounting student at DUT said he was really happy that the protests were peaceful and resulted in no increases next year. “What concerns me is if Government really implements no fees increases and possible free tertiary education, how are the institution's management going to run. I personally applied for funding and didn't get it but luckily I managed to get a bursary. I'm just worried going forward how these proposals will affect the tax payer and soon I will be one. I think education should not be free for all, but only those that can't afford it as long as they perform academically.”

Chant'e DuPlessis a second year Drama and Performance student and UKZN missed the protest action because of a death in her family. “I wasn't on campus or in the protest but was keeping up with the news as many of my friends were involved. I totally agree with the campaign and believe education should be affordable, if not free because everyone has the right to an education and to finish their degrees.”

Kimone Pillay a third year law student at UKZN felt the idea behind the protest was good and she was pleased with the resulting zero percent fee increase. “I don't believe education at a tertiary level would be free because our country can't even afford to have school level education that is free at the moment. I was really happy that the marches in Durban were peaceful and achieved results.”

Dhilshad Hoosen, a final year Law student at UKZN told Berea Mail she understood the plight of students. “The increase was ridiculous so I'm glad with the result of the protest but there is a lot of pressure on us final year students with the disruptions. I'm afraid if there is free education, the quality of education would go down because who will pay the good lecturers?”