Yesterday a student gathering over the 2017 fee increment fueled ongoing protests at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).This meeting took place on the Pietermaritzburg (PMB) campus.
During the meeting students shared their views on a fee increment for 2017. UKZN (PMB) students made it clear that they did not want fees to increase. Students also discussed the possible ways forward after Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande announced that university vice-chancellors would decide on the 2017 fee increases for their respective universities. It has been said that vice-chancellors across the country had agreed to an 8% fee increase for 2017 despite Nzimande’s proposed 6% increase.
After the meeting students agreed to continue with the protest, which had already lasted for two weeks. Students began to protest in front of Old Main Building on PMB campus. They closed Durban road as the police and Mi7 monitored the situation. After the students started burning bins, they were forcefully dismissed by police firing tear gas at them.
Students believe that protesting is the only way they can be heard. An anonymous student explained that, “This is what South African students should do to counter challenges like fee increments; this is the only way students can voice their problems and be heard.” Students claim they followed protocol and had met with university management before engaging in a protest. However, in those meetings they felt that they were not heard, which is why they believe protesting will let them be heard.
Today protests have continued with police and private security confronted with protesters and the destruction of more university infrastructure while academic activities remain suspended until further notice.
