MINISTER NZIMANDE CONDEMNS VIOLENT PROTESTS
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande has strongly condemned violent student protests at some universities in the country.
The violent protests which have led to damage to property and interference in the academic programmes in some institutions are wholly unacceptable and provide no solution to student concerns.
Government has gone a long way to accommodate poor students and those in the missing middle, by exempting them from any fee increase in the 2017 academic year.
“It is most disturbing to see such violent protests enflamed by rogue elements after wide consultation was undertaken on the measures announced this week to address the ongoing issue of university fees. Government has heeded the call of students by subsiding fee increase in 2017 to poor, working class and ‘missing middle’ students. We cannot subsidise all students in the same manner.
Those from households with an income per annum of below R600,000 have been assisted by the gap funding from government as announced this week. Those with the means to do so should contribute to increasing university costs by paying fees. Fees remain a significant income stream for universities, together with government subsidies and third stream income,” he says.