TUT management to attend meeting with Zuma
The Tshwane University of Technology has confirmed that their Vice Chancellor, Prof Lourens van Staden, together with members of the CSRC, will attend a meeting with President Jacob Zuma today.
President Zuma is expected to meet with all role players at the Union Buildings today to discuss the cuurent mass action by students accross the country.
A statement from TUT reads:
21 October 2015 marked the unprecedented closure of most of the universities country-wide in support of the #FeesMustFall Campaign. This date will probably go down in history as an important turning point in the funding of students in the country.
Dr Bandile Masuku, Chairperson of the Tshwane University of Technology Council, Prof Lourens van Staden, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, as well as the TUT community are unwavering in their empathy and support of the plight of our students who face extreme difficulties to pay for higher education.
“As a people’s university we are sensitive to the needs of students, with many of our students hailing from disadvantaged communities and are dependent on NSFAS funding, bursaries and loans to finance their studies.
“Furthermore, we must remember that as universities, our existence depends on our students. We are here to serve them, the future of our country,” says Prof van Staden.
He, however, implored students to exercise discipline and restraint in their actions. “This issue is about more than just student fees, it is about the transformation in higher education. But, students should observe the fine line between protest action and transgressing the rule of law. Through disciplined action aimed at bringing about change, they will retain the public sympathy and contribute towards change in higher education,” said Prof van Staden.
Thousands of students are gearing up to march to the Union Buildings today after marching to the ANC head quarter, Lethuli House, yesterday.
- Press Release