#FeesMustFall

To understand this hash tag, one has to know about another hash tag:

#RhodesMustFall

I have written about this in a few blog posts last year. The students at the University of Cape Town (UCT), together with teachers and other staff members demanded that the statue of John Cecil Rhodes, in the centre of the UCT campus, had to be taken away. This was also done, after a short time of protests. The undercurrents were South Africa’s reflection on the colonial era and also a need for renewal of the reconciliation process. Even the role of Nelson Mandela (whose name is linked with Rhodes, in the Mandela Rhodes Foundation) was questioned.

The last month or so South Africa has seen similar protests, yet quite different. This time – and it is nothing new – the fight is about tuition fees. South Africa does not have extremely high fees but for most of the population they are still not affordable. According to what I hear, the country could afford free tertiary education. The ANC-government has, however, not opted for this route. It claims that the nation first has to roll out a social security system. The critiques say that this is not happening anyway. Many billion rand disappear into mismanagement or corruption. (Read more about this on the blog of my friend and colleague, Hans Engdahl).

This time the different universities had informed students about an increment of fees for 2016. About 6 %, which I think is equal to the inflation. The students did not want this. So, students took to the streets. In almost every university town! This Thursday and Friday the University of KwaZulu-Natal therefore decided to close the University.

Rico and Clint ( in the middle) are discussing strategy with the students.

Some of UKZN-colleagues were marching with the students and yesterday evening I got first-hand information from the protest march in Pietermaritzburg. It had been a very peaceful march. The police had been there and acted in a helpful manner. A few minor incidents happened. Like some students who started to through empty plastic bottles over a fence onto the Provincial Legislature Building. Those were directly stopped by the organisers, who directly expressed that this was a peaceful demonstration.

There is a widespread support in South Africa for the students this time. The ANC has promised free education long ago and it does not happen. The minister of Education, Blade Nsimande, really made a mistake by trying to joke and say that the students must fall. By the way, he is the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and he is now the target of the revolution.

Well known, high profile leaders, like Senior Vice-President of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), Frank Chikane, Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and even the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT), Max Price, support the protests. Maybe it is because their own children take part in it. All three have sons who have been arrested.

News24 writes that the son of the UCT VC was arrested. IOL-news reports about the sons of Makgoba and Chikane and especially about the reaction of Makgoba:

Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba broke down on Thursday as he reacted to his son’s arrest during the student protest at Parliament against university fee increases.

On his his blog Thabo Makgoba says:

I appeal to Bishops and parishioners in all our dioceses to support students and staff at tertiary institutions, and to pray for an amicable resolution to the crisis. Apart from holding prayer vigils, I appeal to our churches to give practical help to students in distress.

I also find a statement from church leaders on this blog. The link is here. I am sorry that I don’t see the preseiding bishop of ELCSA as one of the signatories, although there are two other Lutherans. One from ELCSA (N-T) and one from LUCSA.

Late yesterday afternoon, President Zuma informed the country that the fees will stay the same for 2016. How the government will compensate the universities is not clear. But the students take this as a victory.

If this will lead to a system with free tertiary education is still to be seen. That would, I believe, definitely be a step in the right direction.