SAUS vows complete shutdown of public universities

The shutdown will last until all their demands are met.

The decision follows what the students describe as an “unfruitful” meeting with Deputy Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas).

SAUS deputy secretary-general Sibusiso Thwala says the student representative council (SRCs) at all 26 public universities are in support of the decision.

The SRC’s want all students with outstanding debts to be allowed to register.

In total, the institutions are owed R13 billion in historic debt.

“SAUS rejects the responses of the Ministry of Higher Education as outlined by the Deputy Minister,” Thwala said at a media briefing on Sunday.

“We see these responses as a check-box exercise, unsatisfactory and with no tangible solutions to address the 15 demands submitted. This is also testament to the lack of urgency and commitment by South African Union of Students.”

Thwala said the shutdown will be based on unity and not political affiliations.

“We have already met with the student political organizations and we will continue to engage them to ensure that students are united and work together as a collective.

“We must make it clear to the public that we are against the burning of buildings, destruction of infrastructure and violence. We call upon all students to participate in this shutdown peacefully.”

The union also slammed what it believes to be police brutality against students.

“We resolve to reject in the strongest terms the police brutality carried out by the South African Police Services against us. We call upon universities and the government to stop treating students as criminals when we are fighting the just cause of free education.”

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