MPs ‘concerned’ about Zuma’s delay in releasing fees commission report

 The Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has raised concerns over president Jacob Zuma’s delay in releasing the Heher Fees Commission report.

This follows calls from some universities’ vice chancellors, opposition parties and students for the president to release the report.

Zuma established the commission in January 2016 following nationwide protests over higher education fees.

The commission finished its work early this year and its chairperson, Judge Jonathan Heher handed the report to Zuma by in August.

At the time of receiving the report, Zuma said he would study it and make it available to the public “in due course.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, the chairperson of the Higher Education Committee, Connie September said while they accept that the Zuma needs to apply his mind to the report and engage with the relevant ministers, it would have been ideal if this had happened “expeditiously.”

“The release of the Heher Commission of Inquiry report into Higher Education funding in the country is a matter of public interest. There now seems to be anxiety and potential unrest as a result of further delays in releasing the report,” she said.

September revealed that MPs engaged on the matter and resolved to write to the new minister of higher education Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize to request its release.

“This is in addition to the Committee’s request to the Minister last week that she facilitates the release of the report. It serves no purpose to keep society in suspense over what the Commission found. Also, it is a wrong approach to allow a situation where the report comes in drips, through unnecessary leaks in the media.

“The release ought to be expeditious so that universities know what and how to budget for the next year. Punctuality will allow them to make informed decisions as to what percentage increase they require for the next year,” she said.

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