Zuma announces a 0% increase in tertiary education fees for 2016

23 October 2015 - 17:10 By RDM News Wire, News24

"We agreed that there will be a zero increase of university fees in 2016," President Jacob Zuma told a media conference at the Union Buildings. His address comes after a meeting with student leaders and university officials following a nationwide protest against increased fees.Thousands of students had travelled from around Pretoria and Johannesburg to attend the demonstration, which gradually degenerated into violent scenes at a fence erected on the south lawn separating the students from the Union Buildings.The protesters had demanded that Zuma that speak to them outside the Union Buildings, however Zuma elected to speak to the nation from inside the buildings. It was unclear whether he would still address the protesters.The president also announced that exam time tables would be adjusted to allow for more time so that students could prepare for their tests.The reactions were swift on social media platforms:“0% percent increase. Thank you South Africa. The power in unity. #UnionBuilding #FeesMustFall‚” ‏@OmenMchunu tweeted.“0% Increase 2016. Exams postponed. Victory to the students” - Jamela Garda ‏@jamelagarda.“Now it's over to #students who drove #FeesMustFall to accept 0 increase. He said for 2016‚ though. What about thereafter? #unionbuilding” - Ingrid Jones ‏@JonesIngrid“0% achieved. NEXT #FreeEducationForAll #unionbuilding” - Bantu Mwana ‏@Mosotho119911“Protest really comes from the heart. It ushers us into the presence of rewriting history. Keep the discipline intact fighters #unionbuilding” - More Nubian Queen ‏@MokoenaDeeStudents who had come to protest peacefully were overshadowed by a minority of students at the fence, many of them wearing T-shirts bearing the branding of the Economic Freedom Fighters, the SA Students Congress, ANC Youth League, and the Pan Africanist Movement of Azania.Those at the front of fence antagonised riot police by tearing down the fence, and throwing stones, bricks and other objects at police and even media. Police used stun grenades, tear gas and a water cannon to disperse some of them. Source: RDM News Wire, News24..

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