NMMU urges staff, students to stay off all campuses as protests spread

20 September 2016

Cape Town – The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University has advised staff and students to stay off all campuses, as student protests continue to rage across the country.

"Essential services will continue, but all academic activities have been suspended for today," the university said on Tuesday.

Essential services include security, catering, cleaning, health-related services and key technical staff, it said.

Staff and students who could work remotely were urged to do so.

University management was meeting to consider the implications of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande's 2017 fees announcement.

Students across the country took to the streets on Monday and Tuesday following a decision by Nzimande to leave the decision on fee increases for 2017 to universities.

However, fee increases for 2017 would be capped at 8%, while the poor and the "missing middle" students would be subsidised.

At NMMU students blocked the south and north campuses in Summerstrand, burning tyres and singing struggle songs while calling for unity.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.