The protests also reached Parliament and the Union Buildings.The increase in the fees seemed to have been implemented without much consultations taking place with the various student societies to get the views of the students. There can be no doubt that this increase was going to have a devastating impact on the average students cost of living as they would now have to pay higher fees, in addition to the heft cost of textbooks and stationary, monthly rent, daily meals, and in some cases transport costs. The financial situation for some students is so dire that many do not know where their next meal is going to come from. What makes the increase all the more frustrating for them is that it seems that some of the university staff is unwilling to relinquish their hefty annual bonuses.
It seems that the Department of Higher Education does not have an adequate plan to deal with the need to make tertiary education affordable and it seems that there isn’t space for tertiary institutions in the national treasury’s budget. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has plan to tackle this problem, as it would expand the National Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS) assistance and cover the full cost of the study, convert loans into bursary’s if studies are successfully completed, provide state sureties for students not qualifying for NSFAS bursaries but seeking loans from commercial banks, and allow students qualifying with certain skills to repay loans through public service. This plan will assist the country in getting more graduates as the students will have less to stress about.
There are people who say that tertiary education is a privilege and not a right, however I disagree as with their currently being so few jobs available people need to be as qualified as possible. It is also important for the country to have a skilled labour force which can help grow the economy. One aspect of the protests that I do disagree with is any vandalism and violence that took place. If property was vandalised it will cost money to repair it, which some mechanism will have to be found the repairs. In terms of violence that took place we live in a country where the rule of law needs to reign supreme, and therefore it can never be acceptably for protestors to break the law and create a sense of anarchy. I also hope that the protesting students have found some time to study as their exams are coming up soon, and they need to pass and graduate.
Michael Crichton
Secretary DA JHB South Constituency and DA Boroang Branch
Ward 56: Ward Committee Public Safety portfolio
