Zero fee increases to impact negatively on universities

South African Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande said on Monday that zero fee increases would force universities to down size or shut down certain programs.

"Some of our institutions are at a very precarious position, so we have to take into account all that," he told reporters in Johannesburg.

The minister said students should have to wait until the end of this month to know if there will be fee increases for the next year.

Students need to remain calm, as a decision on fees will only be made following a consultation process with various interested parties, the minister told reporters in Johannesburg.

"The universities have the issue of the implications of whatever action we take in relation to this matter. That was why we were in discussion and sharing the report. The report itself does point out that what would be the consequences of the fee increase across the board. We are looking at all these things," he said.

"We want to settle this fees issue once and for all," Nzimande added.

The minister addressed the media as the Mangosuthu University of Technology and the Pietermaritzburg Campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) were shut down due to student protests.

South Africa Union of Students (SAUS) Secretary General Sthembiso Ndlovu told Xinhua that more universities would be shut down if fee increases for 2017 were implemented.

The Council for Higher Education has recommended a 6.3 percent fee hike for next year, saying a zero increment will put a lot of pressure on the institutions of higher learning.

Meanwhile, students are adamant that they wanted no fees increases for next year.

The Pan-Africanist Student Movement (PAM) has also threatened to make the country ungovernable if universities increase fees for 2017.

If the needs of the youth are not attended to, the students will make sure that universities are not operational. Nothing continues without the students," PAM General Secretary Justice Digashu told the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

"We will close down all universities and also close down the Union Buildings (the seat of government). The reality of the matter is that there are above 8 million youth unemployed across the country. They can't afford education. The system must be able to cater for the needs of poor students," he added.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted on Monday outside the University of Johannesburg's Doornfontein campus when protesting students attempted to block roads.

Some of the students had placards that read in parts: "Fee Must Fall." The students, who were dancing and singing, demanded free education and set alight bins in the vicinity.

South African universities were hit by widespread protests over fee increases last year. According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, the unrest cost more than 145 million rand (about 10.8 million U.S. dollars) in damage.

Following the unrest, President Jacob Zuma appointed a commission to look into the students' concerns.

The government then suspended fee increases for 2016 and provided universities with billions of rand for the shortfall.

Source : XINHUA