#FeesHaveFallen: Zuma scraps fee hikes for 2016
The president has met the #FeesMustFall campaign’s demand for a zero percent tuition increase for 2016.
PRETORIA - President Jacob Zuma has announced that there will be a zero percent fee hike for this year, and has agreed to look at broader issues affecting university students.
The president met with student leaders and university management at the Union Buildings to resolve the deadlock that has resulted in nationwide protests.
BREAKING NEWS: President Zuma says there'll be NO university fee increases for 2016 https://t.co/OJfQs3iz2f pic.twitter.com/yjOm3RZOrL
- EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 23, 2015
#FeesHaveFallen and now for a #NationalTurnUp https://t.co/Ik20OuRxKS
- SOTOBE (@SO_2_BE) October 23, 2015
- IG: Mukti11 (@Mukti61) October 23, 2015
RT" @Zwelinzima1: #FeesHaveFallen - 0% increase for next year! Congratulations to the students - Power concedes nothing without a struggle"
- Faith (@TTUMO) October 23, 2015
#FeesHaveFallen #FeesHaveFallen #FeesHaveFallen #FeesHaveFallen #FeesHaveFallen #FeesHaveFallen #FeesHaveFallen More to fight for!!!
- #FeesMustFall (@Cobhoza) October 23, 2015
10.4% - 0% real quick! #FeesHaveFallen
- Thabang Mokotla (@MokotlaT) October 23, 2015
Wow I personally didn't think 0% increase would be possible or viable. So glad to be proven wrong. #FeesHaveFallen
- Luka Goodson Gama (@lukagoodson) October 23, 2015
He addressed the burning questioning surrounding the fees increases, and has met the Fees Must Fall movement's demand for a zero percent fee hike.
Zuma also announced that university management would extend the deadline for the exam period to make up for lost time.
The meeting also focused on long-term issues which government has agreed to look at.
These include free tertiary education, racism, accommodation problems as well as what the students have termed 'black debt'.
WATCH: NMMU students: Don't shoot, we just want an education.
Zuma says a presidential task team that has been set up to investigate funding issues will now also look at these broader issues.
The president says government understands the difficulties faced by students from poor households and has pleaded with all those affected to allow the process to unfold.
#FeesMustFall students gathering on the lawn again. #EWNChopper MS pic.twitter.com/OARWhejsEm
- EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 23, 2015
We have done it! They doubted us but we have succeeded! #FeesHaveFallen ✊✊✊ Thank You Comrades. pic.twitter.com/nKiFnLe9Cf
- Vho Steal-Yo-Bae (@Zimkhitha_) October 23, 2015 WATCH: University of Fort Hare protests turns into looting spree.
'THE FEES MUST FALL CAMPAIGN IS NOT OVER'
But despite Zuma announcing a zero percent tuition fee increase at universities across for next year, students at the University of the Western Cape say the Fees Must Fall campaign is not over.
UWC students and their counterparts from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology have welcomed the fact that tuition fees won't increase next year.
However, they maintain the struggle is far from over.
UWC student Lindokuhle Mandyoli says there's a bigger cause, while Mphuthumi Nomdakana says registration fees must fall.
