#FeesMustFall campaign to continue after exams: PYA

“The protest has not ended, it was merely suspended and shall resume after examinations,” the PYA leadership told journalists in Johannesburg.

The organisation comprises of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), Young Communist League of SA (YCLSA) and the SA Students Congress (SASCO).

SASCO president Ntuthuko Makhombothi called on students to return to lectures.

“The struggle for free education is now returning to class, the library and examination halls. We call on all academics and institutions to assist our students to have the space and time to succeed. We protest in order to be educated, not to undermine our education,” he said.

Makhombothi slammed “rogue and reactionary political elements” who he said were trying to hijack students protests and push for a regime change.

“The end game of these elements is regime change. Their agenda is political and has nothing to do with the progressive and proper student protest…we will not allow any force to divide students, weaken the campaign and abuse our platforms for narrow political gains”.

Turning to the problems at the Witwatersrand University where students were divided over whether the protests should continue, Makhombothi said there were attempts to paint the Wits SRC as being divided.

“The #FeesMustFall campaign started at Wits, and the Wits SRC led by its PYA leadership led a united and peaceful protest. We now have attempts by some elements who want to push their own political agenda,” he said.

ANCYL secretary Njabulo Nzuza said the struggle for free education had been a long time coming.

“It did not start two weeks ago, our forebears led this movement. The fact that the national leadership was not in the media spotlight, does not mean the PYA did not do anything. No other organisation had been advocating for free education, but ours”.

He added that problems at various institutions would be dealt with campus by campus. January 2016 would see more problems resurface as a new academic year starts.

“The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) for example, still have issues of accommodation, registration problems and so on. These are issues that will be dealt with as they affect students at campuses,” said Nzuza.

Most universities had indicated on Wednesday that academic activities would resume this week.

Wits resumed lectures on Wednesday despite pockets of demonstrations by a small group of students supported by workers. - ANA

(File photo)