Cape Town students march to Parliament

Students marched to Parliament on Wednesday, calling for free education.

   

SA Students' Congress (Sasco) provincial secretary Sello Nkatho said the students marched from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town.

   

The group intended to hand over its memorandum to a representative of the education commission.

   

Nkatho said the students wanted education to be free for every young person who qualified as poor, according to a government means test.

   

He envisioned the education assistance taking the form of a bursary.

   

"There is a body of evidence gathered that shows where government has a political will and correct administration, education can be made free for the poor, the disenfranchised, and the destitute," he said.

   

It was unacceptable that higher learning institutes increased their fees between eight and 12 percent every year, said Nkatho.

   

Sasco would continue with marches and "other alternatives" should government not respond to its call.

   

Marches were taking place on Wednesday in all provinces except the Free State, where a march had been postponed.

   

A national march was planned on Thursday and would start at the Tshwane City Hall in Pretoria.

   

-Sapa