Zero fee increase would make 19 S. African colleges dysfunctional: minister

If the zero fee increases continued, about 19 South African universities would become dysfunctional in 2018, a senior official said Wednesday.

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande said this while briefing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education about the work undertaken on university fee increases for 2017.

Chairperson of the Committee, Connie September, said consideration needs to be given to create lasting stability at institutions of higher education.

"As yet, no decision has been taken on university fee increases and thus there is no need to threaten closing institutions of higher learning," September said.

She called on all stakeholders in the sector to collectively work towards consensus to improve education for all.

The Committee has recommended a 6.3 percent fee hike for the next academic year, saying a zero increment will put a lot of pressure on the institutions of higher learning.

But students demand zero fee increases, threatening to disrupt universities if their demand is not met.

South African universities were hit by widespread protests over fee increases last year. The government later suspended fee increases for 2016 and provided universities with billions of rand for the shortfall. Enditem