UPDATE: Wits Students say ‘no’ again
BRAAMFONTEIN - Wits Students protest against the Minister's proposed eight per cent fees increment and demand free education
A protest erupted at Wits University’s main campus in Braamfontein immediately after the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, announced a fees increase of no more than eight per cent.
Students gathered at Solomon Mahlangu House to sing songs of protest to voice their disapproval against the fees increment.
Secretary General of the Wits SRC Fasiha Hassan said the students rejected the proposed fees increment.
“If fees must increase it cannot come from the students. If I could not afford fees this year I will definitely not be able to afford an eight per cent increment in the fees,” she said.
She added that the students were calling for free education and nothing less.
After gathering inside Solomon Mahlangu House the students walked around the campus singing songs with a heavy police presence on the campus. Around five police vehicles were spotted.
However, Nzimande pledged that the government would pay the increase for the students from poor backgrounds. “Students with a family income of up to R600 000 per annum will be supported by government‚ he said.
An update will follow as soon as we receive comment from Wits University.
