National Sasco protest at higher education facilities
The South African Students Congress (Sasco) has called for a national shutdown of all institutions of higher learning. The national shutdown is in protest of the financial situations regarding student fees.
The Bulletin spoke to a representitive of SACO at Gert Sibande College in Evander as well as an EFF student leader regarding the protests
The message is clear, “We want al historical debt cleared and students should be allowed to register, even if they have debt.”
Sasco President Bamanye Matiwane said in an interview with SABC “They have a responsibility to close all campuses. The demands are clear, no student must pay any registration money. NSFAS must give students their allowances. The government must clear all student debt. We are expecting every campus that is open that it must be closed.”
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande has announced that Cabinet took a decision that funding would have to be reprioritised to address the National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding shortfall.
Sasco and the EFF are adamant that Blade Nzimande should make good on his promises. They even said that the previous president, Jacob Zuma made promises that are not kept.
The Police tried to disperse the crowd with rubber bullets as the Bulletin arrived on the scene but ceased while we were at the scene
