Students give Nzimande a deadline on their demands, threaten national shutdown
According to SAUS, government is "systemically racist
and are inhumanely and unreasonably aggressive to the extent that they
find pleasure in violating the rights of ordinary South
Africans, including the right to life."
The South African Union of Students (SAUS) has given the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, until 5pm on Friday to respond to their demands, failing which they will embark on a nation-wide shutdown.
This followed protests by students at Witwatersrand University (Wits) and across the country against financial exclusion.
"It has been our considered view as SAUS that from Andries Tatane (2011); to Marikana (2012); to Higher Education (2015- today), we have an anti-black and anti-poor police force, who are not trained to deal with public order," says SAUS in a statement.
According to SAUS, government is "systemically racist and are inhumanely and unreasonably aggressive to the extent that they find pleasure in violating the rights of ordinary South Africans, including the right to life."
The union said they would support all Student Representatives Council’s (SRCs) engaged in protest action.
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They sent Nzimande a letter, demanding he answer them by 5pm Friday.
"Should Minister Blade Ndzimande fail to respond positively to the list of demands, SRCs have given SAUS a clear mandate to engage with SAVETSA (Union representing TVET colleges) and all student political formations in preparation for rolling mass actions and a National Shutdown of all higher education institutions from Monday 15 March," they said.
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Their demands are as follows:
Financial clearance and the clearance of historical debts for all students to ensure smooth registration.
Justice for the family of a person who was killed by police on the 10th ofMarch 2021 at WITS University.
Immediate provision of post-graduate funding.
Allocation of NSFAS funding for first-time entering students (FTENs) or new students. All first years must be unblocked for registration whilst government is still resolving the funding matters.
Laptops must be provided to students as the academic year starts.
We demand all student allowances to be provided in March because the academic year starts in March.
Increase in student enrolment quotas to allow admission for matriculates.
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Free registration for all students during 2021 academic year.
Students must be provided with their academic records and certificates, even those who owe the universities.
A zero percent fee increase for the 2021 academic year.
Free quality education for the poor and the missing middle.
The suspension of academic exclusion for 2021 academic year because of the impact of Covid-19.
SAUS and SRC members are demanding 100% of all students to campus under lockdown level 1 (students who are from homes with no connectivity are already being excluded from online registration and classes)
The extension of the registration period to 30th April 2021 considering the difficulties that a number of institutions and students are crippled with.
That NSFAS appeals to be opened and finalized within the next two weeks.
Nzimande acknowledged receipt of the letter on Thursday when he addressed a press briefing on the latest Cabinet meeting outcomes.
