Parliament condemns disruption of Fees Commission sitting

07 September 2016 - 15:32 By Nashira Davids

Parliament has lashed out against the students who disrupted Tuesday's sitting of the Fees Commission in Cape Town. University of Cape Town vice-chancellor Max Price had to be escorted by police from the Centre for the Book - where the hearing was held - after students disrupted proceedings. Price was involved in a heated exchange with students who demanded that other students facing disciplinary action‚ due to their involvement in the fees protests‚ be cleared.Parliamentary committee laments lost academic termParliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education called “on churches to pray for stability and safety” and “parents to engage learners about their future” following the “latest spate of violence at universities”. They vowed to disrupt upcoming hearings.On Wednesday afternoon Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training issued a statement condemning the actions of the students."We should not tolerate a situation where the Commission is being stopped and muddied by acts of violence. There would not be a proper outcome if the Commissioners’ work [come] under threats‚'' said committee chairperson Connie September.The commission was set up by President Jacob Zuma in response to the Fees Must Fall protests. Hearings will be held around the country to ''look into the feasibility of free higher education''.TMG Digital/Cape Newsroom..

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