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South African president rules out university fees increase amid protests South African students score tuition fee protest victory
(about 3 hours later)
The South African president, Jacob Zuma, has ruled out fee increases for universities next year after a week of nationwide protests by students that culminated in a mass gathering outside the main government offices. South Africa’s student movement has scored a big victory after plans to raise university fees were scrapped following weeks of nationwide protests that culminated in a mass gathering outside the main government offices.
Universities had proposed fee hikes of up to 11.5% next year, arguing they need higher fees to keep up standards. The largest demonstration took place at the Union Buildings, South Africa’s seat of government in Pretoria. More than 10,000 people gathered on Friday to demand that proposed fee rises be scrapped, and called for the president, Jacob Zuma, to personally address their concerns.
Thousands of university students had protested against the planned rise in one of the biggest student movements to have emerged since South Africa rejected white minority rule in 1994, posing a challenge to the ruling African National Congress party. It was the largest single student protest since the 1976 Soweto uprising – an iconic moment in the fight against South Africa’s apartheid regime – and participants represented a broad cross-section of the country’s racial groups and political parties.
“We should be having free education,” said 18-year-old Bongani Shabangu, who is studying education at a university in Pretoria. “Most of us are from poor families.” Although the presidential podium was erected twice, Zuma never appeared, choosing instead to make the announcement in the press room inside the main building.
Lucky Mahlatse, a 20-year-old computer science and statistics student, said more challenges lie ahead for graduating students. “It’s not that easy to get a job,” he said.
Security forces periodically detonated stun grenades to clear students on Friday who were trying to force an opening in the fence and throwing stones at police officers. Most of the protesters were not involved in the clashes.
The students, some chanting and singing, had gathered in groups on a large lawn at the foot of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, capping more than a week of protests against tuition increases planned for next year.
Many students accuse the government of not doing enough to support university students and their families who are struggling to pay bills.
Costs vary, but annual tuition for undergraduate students in South Africa runs to several thousand pounds at some universities. That amount, combined with textbook and accommodation costs, is a burden for many poor students in a country with a wide gulf between the affluent and those with limited means.
Related: South African students rally against tuition fees in JohannesburgRelated: South African students rally against tuition fees in Johannesburg
The protests began last week at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, which later dropped plans for a 10.5% tuition hike in 2016 and has suspended classes until at least next week because of the disruption. “We agreed that there will be a zero increase of university fees in 2016,” he said after a meeting with student leaders. Universities had proposed fee rises of up to 11.5% next year, arguing they need higher fees to keep up standards.
Many universities are in exam season, and there have been reports of protesters going into lecture halls and forcing some students to stop taking exams. On Wednesday, a student protest outside parliament in Cape Town turned violent and 30 demonstrators were arrested. Zuma’s non-appearance infuriated protesters. A small minority tore up security fences, burned portable toilets and threw rocks at police. The police responded forcefully, using teargas, rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Running battles between small groups of protesters and police continued after sunset, damaging several vehicles.
“It’s wrong. We were invited here by the president, and we’ve been waiting all day. We had to react. We had to show the president this is serious,” said Tobago Madiba, 21, a student from the Tshwane University of Technology, his eyes closed after exposure to teargas.
The demonstration had begun peacefully, with protesters chanting and holding up signs with slogans. When some protesters began to throw rocks, others tried to dissuade them by chanting “Non-violence! Non-violence!”
Student leader Mcebo Dlamini, a key organiser at the University of Witwatersrand, said students had not caused any violence. “There is no violence here. We have seen students reacting to the brutal system of the ANC [the ruling party].”
Stephen Grootes, a political commentator, said the success of the student protests posed a headache for the ANC. “What this does reveal is the ANC’s inability to deal with a multiracial, multiclass and multiparty group of people who refuse to buy into the old political narrative,” he said.
There were protests in most big city centres throughout the country. Hundreds of South African and international students also attended a solidarity rally outside the South African high commission in London.
It is unclear whether the students will put their placards away and return to class on Monday. Many were angered by the forceful nature of the police response, while others were determined to use this momentum to push for the scrapping of university fees altogether. “Now we know Zuma is a coward. He’s not a man. We want more now, not just a 0% increase. We want free education,” said Ngavatshedzo Mpepu, 24, from the University of Pretoria.