University Fees in Spotlight As Wits Protests Continue
SOUTH AFRICA
Friday 16 October 2015 - 7:44pm
JOHANNESBURG - The Chair of Wits University Council Dr Randall Carolissen on Friday told students that he will take their demands to the council.
Demonstrations continued for a third day at Wits campuses in Johannesburg, with fees in the spotlight.
The university suspended all classes since Wednesday as thousands of students protested against proposed fee increases.
Government officials and vice chancellors have been meeting in Durban during the National Education Summit to discuss the state of higher education.
But Wits University's Vice Chancellor, Professor Adam Habib, has had to leave the conference to return to Johannesburg and face angry students.
At the centre of the dispute: proposed increases in registration, tuition and accommodation fees by an average 10-percent.
Acting Wits SRC President, Shaeera Kalla, said, “There is a majority of black students every year who are academically excluded from this university, and financially excluded from this university. That, that is the reality and we are tired of that reality.”
But Habib says he doesn't have the authority to overturn the university council’s decision to increase fees.
Chaos erupts
Before the meeting with Carolissen, chaos erupted when security was called in and students went on a rampage.
Friday 16 October 2015 - 7:44pm
JOHANNESBURG - The Chair of Wits University Council Dr Randall Carolissen on Friday told students that he will take their demands to the council.
Demonstrations continued for a third day at Wits campuses in Johannesburg, with fees in the spotlight.
The university suspended all classes since Wednesday as thousands of students protested against proposed fee increases.
Government officials and vice chancellors have been meeting in Durban during the National Education Summit to discuss the state of higher education.
But Wits University's Vice Chancellor, Professor Adam Habib, has had to leave the conference to return to Johannesburg and face angry students.
At the centre of the dispute: proposed increases in registration, tuition and accommodation fees by an average 10-percent.
Acting Wits SRC President, Shaeera Kalla, said, “There is a majority of black students every year who are academically excluded from this university, and financially excluded from this university. That, that is the reality and we are tired of that reality.”
But Habib says he doesn't have the authority to overturn the university council’s decision to increase fees.
Chaos erupts
Before the meeting with Carolissen, chaos erupted when security was called in and students went on a rampage.
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