Consultations still in process on college fee issue: S. African Presidency

The South African Presidency on Sunday said that a decision on whether there will be university fee increases will be announced once the process of consultations with stakeholders in the higher education sector is completed.

This came following press reports that President Jacob Zuma has instructed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, and Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande, to find money for another zero-percent fee increase for 2017.

The instruction was reportedly issued at a recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the African National Congress (ANC) in Irene, Pretoria.

Over a week ago, the National Treasury told the Fees Commission of Inquiry that looking into the feasibility of free tertiary education, a zero-percent fee increment for 2017 was not budgeted for.

Early this week, the Higher Education Transformation Network called on the Nzimande to reject the proposal by the council on higher education that institutions increase their fees by six percent for the 2017 academic year.

The Network, however, said the minister should wait until the presidential commission on higher education makes its findings around the feasibility of free education.

Students have threatened to disrupt institutions of higher learning if their demand for zero fee increase is not met.

Nzimande warned that zero fee increases would force universities to downsize or shut down certain programs, calling on the students to remain calm as a decision on fees will only be made following consultations.

South African universities were hit by widespread protests over fee increases last year. According to official figures, the unrest cost more than 145 million rand (about 10.8 million US dollars) in damage.

Following the unrest, President Jacob Zuma appointed a commission to look into the students' concerns.

The government then suspended fee increases for 2016 and provided universities with billions of rand for the shortfall. Enditem