'Outsourcing Must Fall' blames Nzimande for student protests
The 'Outsourcing Must Fall', the 'Fees Must Fall' in Tshwane and the 'Occupy 4 Free Education' movements gathered at Church Square in Pretoria on Wednesday where they held a joint press conference on the spate of student protests in the country.
Students have disrupted academic activities at several universities to demand free higher education.
Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande yesterday addressed the media, saying students should return to class and contribute to the economy.
This comes after his announcement last week that universities would determine their fee increments for the 2017 academic year.
He also announced a range of measures to assist National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the so-called 'missing middle' to cover any fee increments.
Mametlwe Sebei from Outsourcing Must Fall, however, said the current wave of violence is a direct result of the decisions made by Nzimande.
"The attempt of the minister to shift the final decision on who is actually to increase the fees was a cynical attempt to shift the responsibility from government," he said.
The movements called on all South Africans to support the students' protest.
Vusi Mahlangu from 'Outsourcing Must Fall' said they will be meeting with citizens, workers, civic movements, churches and highschool learners on Satuday in Burgers Park, Pretoria, to decide on action in support of the students.
"We want to unite the struggle for minimum wage at R10 000 per month, we want to unite the struggle for free education and we want to unite the struggle for outsourcing to fall - not in our lifetime, but now. We have noted that 'in our lifetime' is postponing our struggle indefinitely," Mahlangu said.
Reporting by Slindelo Masikane