Campus unrest has hit many universities over the past year, with demonstrations and outbreaks of violence as students protested against higher fees forcing poorer, often black, students out of education.
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Academic activities at the UFS were suspended until September 26.
“At the moment we will try to remain civil minded and work with the little things we have”, she said. Authorities have threatened to take action in line with the university’s regulations. “Equally the demands of students need to take into consideration that government has made massive investments into higher education and that there are other competing government priorities which require funding”, Nzimande said.
AS the Treasury scrambles to find money promised to fund the zero increase for poor and working-class students, an economist warned on Tuesday that Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande had made promises SA can not afford to keep.
“We’re reviewing the footage to try and find those people who were involved in the violent acts”.
It followed this up with: “Security has been increased significantly and the police are assisting in maintaining law and order”.
But the ANC Youth League a body of the ruling African National Congress rejected the 8% increase.
The violent protests have led to damage to property and interference in the academic programmes in some institutions, Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande said. “If you say free education for all, there must be an ulterior motive”.
Meanwhile, the University of the Free State says it’s simply impossible not to hike fees for next year, because the institution is faced with increasing expenses which are beyond its control.
“We understand the legitimate student concerns about the affordability of university education”.
He argued that, while the additional student support would “bring huge relief” to parents on middle incomes, an across-the-board fee freeze was not feasible.
A number of universities including, in Pretoria and Cape Town, have suspended classes over the nationwide demonstrations.
Earlier in the day, police also fired stun grenades and arrested 31 students for blocking the university entrance.
Protests continued at universities on Tuesday, resulting in the closure of a lot of them. Some guards flung the projectiles back at protesters.
The demonstrators are also demanding management provides a detailed plan on the implementation of free education by January.
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“We continue to reject all delay tactics that reproduce the crisis of affordability and sustainable financial access”, said the ANCYL, which also called for a review of the autonomy of higher learning institutions. Gauteng Provincial Deputy Commissioner Eric Nkuna said the police are constantly disrupted from their core business of fighting crime by the “Fees Must Fall” protests.
