Students must avoid being fooled into protests - UJ

20 September 2016

Johannesburg - Students must avoid being fooled into joining protests that have nothing to do with them, University of Johannesburg's convocation president Mbali Mkhonto warned.

"We encourage students to contemplate the minister's announcement to ensure that they are not hoaxed into joining protests that have got absolutely nothing to do with them.

On Monday, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced that universities in the country could increase fees for 2017 but they could not exceed 8%. The poor and "missing middle" students would be subsidised.

"It will be mendacious to think that free education can be rolled out instantaneously, it is a process which may be protracted as government looks at sustainable funding models for this far reaching, immense project,” Mkhonto said in a statement.

Mkhonto urged students to be aware of those who appropriate legitimate student causes for their personal political ends.

He said students must focus on their studies during this crucial time in the academic calendar.

Mkhonto commended the announcement by Nzimande as ground-breaking and a positive stride toward free education.

"This is in all regards a feasible concession while the commission charged with looking at the feasibility of free education wraps up its work."

Nzimade said the ministry looked at the challenges at hand from all sides and concluded that the best approach would be to allow universities to individually determine their own increases.

Shortly after his announcement students at universities across the country began protesting.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.