NUM Youth Structure calls for President Jacob Zuma to declare free education in the country

20 September 2016

The National Union of Mineworkers Youth Structure (NUM-YS) calls for the President of South Africa honourable Jacob Zuma to declare free education  in the country as resolved by the 2007 ANC Polokwane Conference.

Further, we are calling for legislation that will force private companies to pay for our education as they are the most beneficiaries.

"On the one hand, those who own the means of production should take full responsibility to funding our higher education as they own the country’s economy and they are the most beneficiaries of our education (Lonmin, Anglo Platinum, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Harmony Gold, Sasol, and Sibanye Gold….etc. Against this background, as NUM Youth Structure we, therefore, call upon students across the country to march to the Chamber of Mines and other major business institutions in the country to demand that big business fund our education," said Sabelo Mgotywa, NUM-YS National Secretary.

"It should be noted and known that as NUM-YS will not be part of any distraction or burning of any institutions, we further call students to distance themselves from those who want to reverse the gains of our freedom," Mgotywa added.

The NUM Youth Structure further believes that the unity of young people in general and Progressive Youth Alliance, in particular, is sacrosanct.

We depart by condemning the manner in which the vice chancellors has been victimising the leadership of students.

Issued by Sabelo Mgotywa, NUM-YS National Secretary, 20 September 2016