On Sunday last week the SA Union of Students (Saus), an organisation of student representative councils (SRCs), called for the shutdown of universities, citing Nzimande’s failure to deal with student demands.
The list of demands included not increasing residential and academic fees beyond the determined limit, as well as releasing academic results to students with outstanding fees.
The department’s Ishmael Mnisi says Nzimande welcomes the decision to suspend the shutdown.
“The minister wishes to welcome the calling off of the national shutdown with immediate effect in the wake of the common understanding and agreements reached with the student leadership. The minister further urge all our institutions to ensure that all matters agreed to are implemented without any further delays.”
Nzimande agreed with the student union that all the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) students with debt can register provided they sign the acknowledgement of debt form and they meet the academic requirements for continued funding.
Mnisi adds: “The ministry will continue to engage student leadership in finding solutions and urged students to fully cooperate and allow the registration and orientation processes of universities to continue peacefully.”
