Student union backtracks on threat to close universities

30 September 2016 - 20:58 By Neo Goba

The South African Union of Students (SAUS) president backtracked on the threat to shut down universities after Friday’s discussions with the ministers in the security cluster. "We want to make a call that we‚ as students‚ want to continue with our academic programme; we don’t want to shut down our institutions‚” Avela Mjajubana said.But he didn’t step back from the issue of free quality higher education: “We are also saying that government must also meet us halfway … by meeting our demands." Mjajubana was speaking during a media briefing on plans to address the unrest at universities."We must also say the meeting with the security cluster here today‚ does not detour us from raising the issues that we are raising‚" he said.SAUS and other student organisation are to attend a meeting on Monday on how free education can be achieved. It is expected that the Presidency‚ Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and possibly Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will be at the meeting.SAUS said it expected Gordhan to present a framework on how tax on the rich will be deducted from the private sector and corporate organisations. – TMG Digital..

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