The South African Union of Students (SAUS) have announced plans to hold mass consultations and mass meetings starting from Monday.
The student union said SRC’s from different institutions across the country will be hosting mass consultations with students in a bid to compile a national list of demands.
“As the Union our stance is very clear: there can be no increment in any student fees until the realization of free and quality education” said the student union in a statement released on their Facebook page.
There has been wide speculation on a potential shutdown on social media following a tweets which alleged that the Progressive Youth Alliance had been invited to an urgent meeting with Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande to stop students from protesting.
#FeesMustFall so bathi Blade has summoned PYA to a meeting at St George’s, ahead of tomorrow’s planned attempt to shut down universities
— S’thembile Cele (@SthembileCel) August 14, 2016
SAUS and PYA leaders are meeting with govt -Zuma right now in Pretoria. Student leaders must always get their mandate from students.
— Vuyani Pambo (@vuyanipambo) August 14, 2016
@SthembileCel I did not summon PYA, and this is part of the intensive consultations I am undertaking ahead of 2017
— Bonginkosi Nzimande (@DrBladeNzimande) August 14, 2016
@SthembileCel there is no need for anyone to shut down universities as there is no decision on fee increases. Issuing stment shortly
— Bonginkosi Nzimande (@DrBladeNzimande) August 14, 2016
However SAUS have rubbished these claims and said they receive their mandate from students.
“We also reject with contempt those who are attempting to divide the student movement by alleging that SAUS has been in any meetings today (14 August 2016) with the State.”
Nzimande was suppose to make an announcement on whether would be a fee increment for 2017 on Saturday. The press briefing that that was set to happen in Pretoria was postponed indefinitely at the last minute.
The EFF Student Command has also announced that they will not be involved in protests on fee increments saying that their focus is on free education.
“The EFFSC, again, vehemently distances itself from this nationwide student strike which is scheduled to start tomorrow morning. Following this statement, we will issue a directive to all our branches in both Universities and TVETS making it clear that no EFFSC activists should form part of any mass action that is organized by SAUS(and/or its PYA collaborators)”
Click here to read SAUS full statement.
Click here to read EFFSC full statement.
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