ANCYL STATEMENT ON WITS FEES MUST FALL
15 October 2015
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) notes the ongoing strike by the Wits students against the unilateral increment of fees by the Wits management. The ANCYL expresses its unreserved support for the rejection of this increment and the calls for a moratorium on this increase until all consultation processes are concluded.
It is unconceivable that a university like Wits will want to increase fees in the manner they are doing.
1. We will not accept an increment of 6% whilst students are currently paying R 9 500.00 for registration at the beginning of the year.
2. We reject the 9.4% increment of residence fees whilst students are currently paying an average R 50 000.00 per annum
3. We will never accept the reactionary suggestion that students must be subjected to 10.5% overall fee increment.
4. As if this was not enough, the management wants to demolish a residence to build a car park. This is the sign that they are crazy. How do you demolish a residence which students need for accommodation and you do not offer an alternative residence?
The ANCYL believes that skills development is a critical part of our quest for the attainment of Economic Freedom in our lifetime. It is with this reason that the ANCYL calls on the Minister of Higher Education and Training, to put all hands on deck to ensure the attainment of free education for the future of this country.
We note that students across the country including those at Wits are preparing to write their final examinations. We therefore, call on the Wits management to exercise caution and not side track students’ concentration at this very important time. We believe that the ongoing instability at the Wits University will prejudice the students and negatively affect their academic performance in the short term and their employment prospects in the long term.
ANCYL calls on the University Council to urgently intervene in accordance with the students demands on this question. We extend our demand for a speedy intervention by the Department of Higher Education and Training to ensure stability on campuses affected by similar challenges. We call on the Vice Chancellor to schedule meetings with student leadership. This matter will not be resolved through addressing media houses. Media must be the last thing he attends to. We will be joining students of Wits and striking with them.
The ANCYL calls on all Learners and Students to join the planned March for Free Education from Basic Education up until the attainment of the first Bachelors Degree. The March is scheduled to take place in November this year.
Aluta Continua! #WeAreTheFuture
#WitsFeesMustFall
Statement issued by Mlondi Mkhize, National Spokesperson, African National Congress Youth League, 15 October 2015
