Students warn war on fee hikes is not over

Buoyed by their #FeesMustFall and #OutsourcingMustFall victories, students have pledged to intensify their battles on campuses across South Africa.

Lessons from those battles are now being used to provide on-the-battlefield training for those who will eventually take over the reins from the current leaders, who graduate this year.

Student leaders met in secret at the weekend to discuss issues facing the country and chart strategies.

On the students' agenda this year is the scrapping of contract work in the public sector, a R10000 basic salary for public and private sector workers, and a continuation of the drive for free education for academically deserving students who cannot afford university fees.

#OutsourcingMustFall spokesman Austin Mofyoa said the Tshwane University of Technology has agreed to absorb all its outsourced workers.

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He said negotiations were continuing at the University of South Africa.

The movement, he said, will take a break before embarking on the second phase of activism.

Mofyoa said #OutsourcingMustFall was running workshops to equip students with leadership skills.

The chairman of the University of Pretoria's Democratic Alliance Student Organisation, Kwena Moloto, said the unity of students across the political divide was potent and gave students the courage to stand up for their rights, but there was more to be done.

"Fees did not fall, they are still too high for most students.

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"These are issues we have to deal with together. The #FeesMustFall campaign demonstrated what we can achieve in unity."

Moloto said the experience students gained in marching to the Union Buildings and to parliament had prepared them for the next battle - for free education.

University of KwaZulu-Natal SRC president Simiso Memela, who is to graduate later this month, said the #FeesMustFall campaign will continue in the new semester.

"Students are in debt; they can't afford fees even now.

"We are expecting a fee increase announcement in the second semester.

"We will protest if fees are increased," said Memela.