ANC to blame for fees debacle: Opposition parties

It comes after several days of violent protests at UKZN over a proposed fee increase for next year and student representation on the university council, among other issues.

The IFP's Mkhuleko Hlengwa says government's decision last year on a zero percent increase for 2016 was haphazard.

"This knee-jerk reaction by the government was done in the absence of a clear plan, and set into motion a legitimate expectation that fees were on course to being abolished. And this has not materialized, and as a result the fires have been re-lit. Universities are regrettably once more burning," he said.

The EFF's Leigh-Ann Matthys began her maiden speech by telling the House that a government that loves its youth provides means to educate it.

"This government can easily get the money, and put an end to the crisis of education here in South Africa - where we don't have our students being raped and murdered just because they're protesting for education. However, however, there is no hope for the ANC and it is a waste of time to expect the ANC to implement free education for all right now, because they haven't done it, and it's 22 years later," she said.

In his speech, Higher Education Deputy Minister Mduduzi Manana said they were committed to the journey of fundamental change and are working on finding a long-term solution to the realisation of a free higher education.

Manana has acknowledged that the current fees structure is unaffordable and says in the interim, government will strive to regulate fees to contain fees within reasonable and affordable limits.

Referring to the recent violence at UKZN, Manana said the vandals behind the burning of the law library at the Howard College campus and university vehicles at Westville must be brought to book.