S. Africa: Calls for uni shutdown over tuition hike

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Students at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg on Monday closed entrances to the campus in a move aimed at shutting down the university, after a tuition hike announcement for the 2017 academic year.

Secretary-General of the Students Representative Council (SRC), Fasiha Hassan said students were angry because their demands had not been met and they would embark on protests on campus.

“We could not afford the fees in 2015, and we still can’t afford them today. Thus we are calling for free, quality and equal education,” she said in a statement sent to Anadolu Agency.

In other comments posted on Twitter, students said they rejected the increase in fees and would unite in protest until the university shut down.

“No fee increment will be accepted until the realization of free education,” the SRC said on Twitter.

Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande announced Monday universities would individually decide to increase fees but they should not exceed 8 percent for the 2017 academic year.

Last year, thousands of students marched to the seat of government, and the Union buildings in the capital, Pretoria to protest against a proposed tuition hike for the 2016 academic year.

Protesting under the banner #FeesMustFall, students called for free tertiary education.

Lectures were suspended at several universities across the country, while university properties worth millions of rands were vandalized.

After days of protests, President Jacob Zuma announced there would not be any tuition fee hike for the 2016 academic year.

University officials warned at the time that this would cripple them financially affecting their educational programs.

At the time of writing this story, several police officers were seen gathering at the Witwatersrand University to avoid any violent protests.

Groups of students were also seen closing strategic entrances to the campus.

Students at other universities across the country have also been meeting to discuss the way forward after the announcement of fee increases.