Wits protest continues

Protesting students on 20 October rejected a proposed 6 per cent cap on university fees increase for 2016. The cap was announced by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande. Student leaders at Wits University vowed to continue with their protest action until their demands were met. “Blade must cut the increase to zero per cent.

There is a vast difference between 6 per cent and 0 per cent and we said that we want zero per cent increase on fees going into 2016,” one of the student leaders at Wits, Vuyani Pambo, said. He added that there were many students who would suffer financially if the increase went ahead. He said that the time for free higher education in South Africa had come and that the South African Government must listen to what the students were saying.

Amid chaos at universities across the country, protesting Wits students were paid a visit by rapper Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA as well as songstress Simpiwe Dana who said they wanted to pledge their support to the students.

The students have been protesting since 14 October. The protest has seen a few Wits staff members, lectures as well as domestic workers from the university stand with the students against the fees increment.

The university announced via its website that the university would be closed until 26 October. However, the students camped over night at the university’s Senate House and spent the night studying on 20 October.

“We are protesting but at the same time we do need to prepare ourselves for the exams as we all want to do well,” Nompendulo Mkhwatshwa, the newly-elected Wits SRC president said. The Wits protest prompted other universities around the country to join in the protest against the fees increase. North West University, Stellenbosch, Rhodes University, Monash University and the University of Pretoria are protesting and refuse to accept the 6 per cent cap on fees for 2016. The protests continues.