The University of the Witwatersrand students' representative council is demanding a "moratorium" on all university fee increments until the realisation of free and quality education. In a statement released by Wits SRC‚ the student body said that last year during the #WitsFeesMustFall protests‚ which then became the national #FeesMustFall movement‚ "we took to the streets of this country to firstly call for free and quality education‚ secondly to put an end to exorbitant fee increments‚ and thirdly a commitment to the realisation of insourcing at various institutions across the country".On Monday Wits spokesperson‚ Sharona Patel told TMG Digital that things were normal at Wits and there was no protest.Meanwhile‚ University of Johannesburg spokesperson Herman Esterhuizen said they had a small group gathering outside their campus."It (small group) did not last even an hour. We had police presence and things are normal‚ there is no shutdown‚" said Esterhuizen.The South African Union of Students (SAUS) has warned of student protests over free higher education.The Wits SRC statement reads: "The state responded with a moratorium on fee increments for 2016 and created a Presidential commission for free education that was due to report back at the end of 2016. "The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) created a ministerial commission/task team due to report back mid-year 2016‚ and was meant to address issues of the education sector at large and investigate a possible fee increment moving into 2017. "We must state that we heavily criticise the creation of two separate task teams or commissions. This is a clear waste of time but more importantly of tax payers’ money. The work of the commission on free education should inform the way forward for 2017."While waiting for these commissions to report back‚ "the Wits SRC has ensured that no discussion around the increment of fees be decided upon by the University. "We have also made multiple presentations to various stakeholders in the State and in the University calling for a moratorium on fee increments up until the realisation of free‚ quality and equal education. "These reports have equally included possibilities regarding the type of free education as well as views around a decolonised and intersectional understanding thereof."The Wits SRC said that they will reiterate their stance and that there can be no increment in any student fees until the realisation of free and quality education. The Zero Percent fee increase campaign last year was a symbolic commitment to this realisation‚ the student body said‚ adding that a free‚ decolonised and quality education was its ultimate goal.The statement also reads that it is disappointing and insulting that the State has not been able to meet both deadlines of the ministerial task team and presidential commission. "This after multiple plea’s from SRCs across the country to have these commissions report back quarterly in order for us to gain an understanding of the process and the challenges of these commissions. This has also meant that there have been serious difficulties in keeping the student body abreast of what is happening in higher education…" said the Wits SRC.A media briefing by the Minister of Higher Education and Training‚ Blade Nzimande‚ which was scheduled for last Friday regarding university fees for 2017 was postponed‚ his department said.The Wits SRC said that it has very recently come to light that the report back of the Presidential commission has been postponed until May of 2017."We have also not received a report from the ministerial commission or an official announcement on a possible 2017 increment. This has illustrated the lack of political will and a deliberate attempt to further postpone the realisation of free education. "The call for free and quality education is an urgent one and cannot be delayed any further. Thousands of students will again be excluded from the system. Thousands of students will again have the doors of higher learning closed to them‚ if we do nothing…" reads the statement.The Wits SRC said on Friday it was informed that Minister Nzimande met with Vice Chancellors and the Chair of Council to agree on a supposed fee increment for 2017. They were also due to hold a press briefing thereafter‚ however it did not take place."We wish to condemn this entire process. We condemn the fact that there has been no student consultation by the ministry on the issue of a fee increment for 2017 and the deliberate silencing of our demands on a moratorium until the realisation of free and quality education. Whatever the supposed increase‚ it cannot be students who foot the bill thereof. It must be the State and the Private sector who carry this cost. "In 2016 when the President of the Republic announced the moratorium on fee increments‚ it was the State and Universities themselves that covered the costs of the increment – not the student body. In the same light‚ students must not bear the financial burden of a 2017 increment…" the statement further reads.Wits SRC said that they will provide an online survey/questionnaire that students can complete regarding when and how they feel education should be realised. This is one of the many platforms it said it will use to engage their students and receive a mandate from them."These consultations will ultimately lead to a mass meeting where we will interrogate the issues and receive a mandate from our students about the way forward. We will also consolidate a formal list of demands. The mass meeting will likely sit on Wednesday 17 August 2016 or Thursday 18 August 2016. The exact time and venue will be confirmed‚" the student body said...