No action by UNISA students until fees pronouncement
UNISA's Student Representative Council (SRC) says it won't call for an immediate shutdown of campuses until the university announces its decision on fees for next year.
SRC Secretary General, Buyisile Njokweni told media on Wednesday they reject Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande's announcement on fee increases for next year.
Njokweni says while government's fee announcement is evidence of a lack of political foresight and indecisiveness, they will first wait for Unisa to make its pronouncement on next year's fees.
"For now, we are waiting for the UNISA Council to make a pronouncement as it did for 0 percent fee increment in the current academic year. In due course, we'll make a call on all UNISA students in the country to down tools immediately," Njokweni said.
Vice Chancellor Professor Mandla Makhanya described students' demands for free higher education as reasonable, but believes compromise is needed.
"Whenever we have to make proposals to council, we have to engage student leaders. So, that is why we feel that it is the responsible approach, on our part, to say that it is clear that these are parameters within we have to work. Let's have the proper kind of discussion with our own student leaders, before we can actually present a position," Makhanya said.