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15 September 2016 Trotse wenner van die 2016 ATKV Mediaveertjie vir die beste studentekoerant WAPAD® IS DIE STUDENTEKOERANT VAN DIE NWU-POTCHEFSTROOMKAMPUS
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#WillFeesFall? Different plans in place Should we be expecting #FeesMustFall 2.0?
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The #FeesMustFall protest of 2015/10/23. LINZETTA CALITZ
@LinzettaC All eyes are on dr Blade Nzimande, minister of higher education and training, as students and university management teams alike await the previously postponed announcement on a possible fee increase – the announcement is expected within the week. Taking into account the reaction to the 2016 proposed fee increase, another uprising cannot be ruled out completely. Different stakeholders, naturally, had varying responses to the possibility of fees increasing for the 2017 academic year. “No, the NWU (North-West University) cannot” afford a 0% fee increase, said Louis Jacobs, director of corporate communication and stakeholder relations at the NWU. According to Jacobs, this year’s 0% fee increase caused a R179m deficit on the university’s side. The de-
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partment of higher education and training only provided 75% of this amount, leaving the NWU to make up the rest out of its own pocket. Masha Mogorosi, from SASCO (South African Students Congress), told Wapad some form of action will “definitely” be taken if fees were to increase. The Potchefstroom branch of SASCO, however, will not act on its own – “it is a national call.” The exact form of action is therefore still unclear. Although SASCO is currently aligned with the ANC, they describe themselves as “autonomous”. A meeting was planned for Wednesday to discuss #FeesMustFall in general – “not just the fee increment; the increment is just the surface,” Mogorosi said. According to SASCO, “raising the fees will not solve the problem that is already there”: It will only exclude more students. Their main argument is that the NWU is spending money on luxuries in certain places
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instead of on the necessities. Before looking to government for funds, SASCO said they would like the university to disclose where the money already received from government is being spent. According to Hasan Varachia from Reform Puk, they (Reform Puk) support the idea of “tax the rich in a higher tax bracket” so as to provide free education for all. Reform Puk describe themselves as “a black student organization that challenges all forms of oppression and concerns of the students”. “Till (sic) the so called ‘free education commissions’ (the commission of inquiry into higher education and training) report (is) announced, we reject any fee increase whatsoever,” Varachia said. According to The New Age Online, the commission has been extended to next year and is expected to submit a full report to President Jacob Zuma in June next year. “We abstain from taking sides,
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but rather openly invite any organisation or political party to join us to ensure free quality education for all.” Reform Puk concluded by stating that they “will ensure a 0% fee increase for 2017 at whatever cost.” DASO (Democratic Alliance Student Organisation) had a more neutral response to the possible fee increase: “We cannot predict the outcome of the situation at this stage and therefore cannot comment on what options we will take should the fees increase,” Trevor Geoghegan from DASO said. The organisation believes the poorest students need the most financial help, the missing middle should receive help proportional to their financial standing, whilst better-off students should not receive aid as they can afford to pay for themselves. DASO’s fight is alongside the DA – aimed at president Zuma’s government.
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They call on “Jacob Zuma’s government to step up and make the money available,” pointing out unnecessary expenditures. “It’s time for the ANC to get their priorities right and put the interests of students first, once and for all. This is a fight the DA is ready to have.” Jacobs said should fees increase, plans for different scenarios are in place. “Interdicts obtained earlier in the year are still valid and will be enforced should the need arise.” Jacobs emphasised the fact that the university empathises with students. Should there, however, be a case of underfunding and tuition fees are not able to cover the deficit, there will be consequences for everyone. Paul Maritz, chairman of the Student Representative Council (SRC), said their aim is to engage in more conversations this year. “Last year, I think we tried to suppress emotions in a way. We tried so hard to prevent uprisings, we didn’t necessarily allow people to talk.”