Outrage as top S. African university increases fees

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - The Student Representative Council (SRC) of Johannesburg’s prestigious Witwatersrand University has expressed outrage after the university announced an 8 percent increase in tuition fees for the 2017 academic year.
We are disappointed by the university’s announcement, said SRC in a statement mailed to Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.
“We as the SRC have reiterated our stance of a moratorium on fee increments until the realization of Free, Quality and Decolonized education, in line with the call of the Fees Must Fall movement,” the student’s body said.
The University said it had no choice but to increase fees so as to remain financially sustainable and keep academic programs running.
Thousands of university students across South Africa began protesting three months ago, after the education minister announced there would be an 8 percent tuition hike in the 2017 academic year.
Protesting students demanded free education and a zero percent tuition fee increase.
Scenes of students clashing with police and private security guards became common at universities across the country, until exams began last month.
“We are meeting this evening to decide on what steps to take,’’ SRC Secretary General David Manabile told Anadolu Agency via telephone Wednesday, declining to reveal further details.
But local media quoted SRC President Kefentse Mkhari as saying they would mobilize students to protest in January when the university reopens.
Last month, President Jacob Zuma told Parliament that government would pay tuition fees for poor students in the country who account for nearly 80 percent of all university students.
Pretoria based Tshwane University of Technology announced recently that they will not increase tuition fees next year. Other institutions are expected to make their announcements.