Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande is locked in a meeting with the South African Union of Students as the threat of fresh student protests hangs over the country. Nzimande postponed an announcement he was going to make on Friday afternoon on a report he received on Thursday from the Council on Higher Education on fees in 2017. The report comes almost a year since the Fees Must Fall protests last year saw students take to the streets for free higher education. “The minister has decided to gather further views and suggestions before proceeding with any announcement. Given the competing views on fee adjustments during this period in which the Heher Commission of Inquiry is still gathering evidence before making long term proposals‚ it was seen to be imperative that as broad a consensus as possible regarding 2017 is achieved‚” said ministry spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana in a statement on Friday.Nkwanyana said the council was still in talks with various parties‚ including students and university vice-chancellors.The council is separate from the commission of inquiry that is chaired by former Supreme Court of Appeals Judge Jonathan Heher and was tasked by President Jacob Zuma to look into the feasibility of free higher education.The student union has been vocal about the separation of the work by the council and the commission‚ saying that it should have been dealt with by one group.On Tuesday‚ the first day of the commission's hearing‚ the student union said it was disappointed that they could not engage with the panel and vowed to shut down universities to be heard.The student union's national organiser‚ Zimasa Mhlala‚ said she could not share any details on the meeting until later on Friday...