President Zuma freezes 2016 university fees in South Africa

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma Friday ruled out fee increases for universities next year following a week of nationwide protests by students that culminated in a mass gathering outside the main government offices on Friday, Reuters reported.

Universities had proposed fee hikes of up to 11.5 percent next year, arguing they need higher fees to keep up standards.

After meeting university officials and student representatives, President Zuma said that there would be no increase of university fees in 2016. Mr. Zuma also said that in the long term, there were a series of other issues that needed following-up. These include free education and matters around the problem of racism.

The increases in tuition fees would have further disadvantaged black South Africa students who insist that even as they are, the fees were already too high for them.

The Jesuit Institute South Africa has supported the right of students to peacefully protest against the high cost of Tertiary Education in South Africa. The Institute says that the high student fees in South Africa are excluding the poor, working class and even sections of the middle class from accessing tertiary education.  This is according to a statement made available to Vatican Radio’s Africa Service, by Fr. Russell Pollitt, S.J.

 “We support students whose protests have put the serious issue of access to tertiary education firmly on the national agenda, and are heartened to see that many students have rallied across racial lines. Their commitment to challenging injustice peacefully is cause for great hope for the future of our country,” the statement said. 

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(Reuters, Al Jazeera)