Die Matie (21 Sept 16)

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DieMATIE WOENSDAG 21 SEPTEMBER 2016 | GR ATIS

VYF-EN-SEWENTIGSTE JAARGANG | NO 6

Helshoogte residents ankle deep in urine

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Huis Nassau skerp sekuriteit op ná 4 verkragting

Black empowerment and Steve Biko’s legacy

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Strippers versnel polssale in Nu’Bar 10

Heart centre in the making for SU

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Attempts to shut down campus after SU ‘welcomes 8% fee increase’

Fees Must Fall reloaded HAYLEY GRAMMER

P

rotestors at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) main campus were successful in shutting down the BA building after disrupting lectures yesterday. Shortly after, the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences confirmed the shutdown. The library remains closed on main campus and some tests have been cancelled. Students from SU’s medical campus also decided to implement a campus shutdown yesterday, preventing classes from taking place. In an open letter to SU’s rector’s management team, the Tygerberg Student Representative Council (TSC), demanded free decolonised education for all students. “Higher education should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy. The current trend of escalating tuition fees is not in accordance with SU’s vision and is a barrier to the accessibility of higher education. “We strongly urge De Villiers and members of the rector’s management team to stand firm in their support of the realisation of free, quality and decolonised education for all.” It is unclear at this stage how long attempts to shut down SU campuses will continue.

Reason for shut down

Photo: HENK OETS

Photo: DENISE ROBERTSON

#FEESMUSTFALL FULLY RELOADED Students protesting in the BA building yesterday after they occupied the Wilcocks building since last week. “Critical building and transforming of our post-apartheid universities has to be supported, however starving our universities of funding is not the way to go.”

Occupation of the library

On 12 September protesting stuDr Blade Nzimande, minister of dents occupied the library on SU’s higher education and training, shifted main campus, calling for the fall of responsibility over to universities to university tuition and subsequent fee decide on fee increases for students in increases. the upcoming academic year. Protestors remained at the library In a statement given on Monday, until Friday 15 September when they Nzimande were eventually said that uni“Everything is more expen- able to engage versities have with SU rector sive today than it was this carte blanche Wim de Villiers. time last year. over how much “The only fees increase engagement we That is the reality of as long as it had before Friinflation.” - Nzimande doesn’t exceed day was with the 8%. newly employed “Everything is more expensive dean of students who spent a signifitoday than it was this time last year. cant amount of time at the library on That is the reality of inflation. Tuesday promising that management “We have looked at the challenges and De Villiers intended to engage at hand from all sides and have conwith us and that no interdict would be cluded that the best approach would served against the students, and that be to allow universities to individuno violence would occur.” ally determine the level of increase According to a statement released that their institutions will require. by the Facebook group Fees Must “Our recommendation is that fee Fall 2.0, external security employed adjustments should not go above by the university (otherwise known 8%,” said Nzimande. as the “Men in Black”) handed over He added that the situation is a a letter from the university informing fine balancing act and that everyprotestors that they were in contraone must participate, whether at the vention of section 1 of the Trespassnational level, in university adminising Act 6 of 1959. trations, or as student leaders. “It is in “We disagree with this, as we the nature of these balancing acts that believe we were within our rights to if one falls, all fall.

peacefully protest as per section 17 of the Constitution.” The statement continued that students who attempted to stand and block the closing of the corrugated metal door of the library were physically manhandled until they were outside the entrance, at which point the head of external security began pepper-spraying students. “SU continues to make this space violent for black students. It is very distressing that management construed this morning’s events with total disregard to the safety and well-being of the students. “We are drowned in student debt from loans and the university states they provide bursaries, yet not all costs are covered by these bursaries.” Protesting students also disrupted test venues, ripping up test papers and dancing on tables.

Statement from students

On 17 September De Villiers addressed protesting students.

It was noted by protestors that the meeting was not well attended by students because of it being a Saturday morning and them not knowing that De Villiers would “pitch at all”. “SU students were finally able to address their issues and concerns directly to De Villiers. It was the first time since the Fees Must Fall shut down last year that students were able to access and speak to the rector.” Fees Must Fall 2.0 then released a second statement outlining points covered in their discussion with De Villiers. The statement, compiled by students, urged Stellenbosch to rethink its role in South Africa. “Being an internationally renowned research institution cannot be SU’s first priority. “Given the history of this university, as both the birth place and think tank of apartheid, we argue that SU has a larger responsibility to address and actively fix the problems it created.”

De Villiers has been given until Friday to address students again.

Response from SU management

In response to Nzimande’s statement, De Villiers said that the university fully supports fee-free quality higher education for poor students. He however added that a zero percent fee increase is not feasible in the current economic climate without a substantial additional investment from government. “Universities still require cost sharing from government grants plus tuition fees from those who can afford to pay. These recommendations will be included in our 2017 budget proposal for final approval by our university council. “We support the sectoral approach of a proposed 8% increase in tuition fees for 2017. This increase in income will assist SU to continue providing bursaries to financially needy and academically deserving students,” he said.


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Die Matie (21 Sept 16) by Die Matie - Issuu