2016 Fee Protests: A crisis sponsored by the ANC

23 September 2016

The Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) has gathered here today to hold Jacob Zuma and his ANC accountable for the higher education crisis which our country currently faces.

With 8.9 million South Africans unemployed, and more than half of all young people without a job, many of our youth are losing hope – frustrated by the lack of progress and angry at the way the ANC has undermined their future.

Higher education is not just a luxury, as ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, shamefully suggested this week. It is one of the most powerful vehicles for progress that our country has. It provides the skills and the knowledge that our children will need to get a job, and place their feet firmly onto the ladder of opportunity.

It is also our most strategic weapon against the inequality which South Africa inherited. If a poor child from Alexandra receives a quality basic education, and then gets the funding support they need to attend an institution of higher education, they will be as successful as a child born in Sandton.

This is obvious, and the conclusion of development studies across the globe. But the ANC didn’t view it as such. Instead of prioritising higher education, billions was spent on the corrupt Arms Deals. Instead of increased subsidies to Universities, Jacob Zuma built his luxury palace in Nkandla.

Even today, the warped priorities continue. Jacob Zuma wants a fancy new Jet that will cost billions, is bailing out his friend at SAA, to the tune of more than R5 billion, and seems determined to continue with nuclear build project which will cost our economy more than 1 trillion rand!

And what is the ANC response to the crisis it created? The drop-and-go attitude witnessed by Blade Nzimande – kicking the problem as far as possible away from him – while ANC aligned groupings are desperately trying to convince our students that shutting down our universities, and denying the vast majority of students their constitutional rights, are a solution. The ANC government who are responsible for this crisis and are in a position to address it, get away. We believe that these ANC members are acting on instruction to shift the blame away from government.

The ANC has demonstrated time and time again that they will put themselves first, and the people last. The ANC governs like young black lives don’t matter.

It is time for this to come to an end, and to recognise the frustration and anger which many young people face - the overwhelming majority of whom do not what university shut-downs but instead want solutions from government.

DASO accordingly demands that Jacob Zuma:

- As the leader of his party and the country, publicly take responsibility for this crisis and immediately stop the unlawful shutting down of our campuses, so that students can continue with their right to education. - Shut-downs will not help solve the crisis. Lawful protests should be taken to government as government must account for its spending priorities.

- Make a statement before Parliament setting out a viable long-term plan to prioritise higher education within existing budget constraints by redirecting money ear-marked for the VIP jet and other items which the DA identified, including VVIP protection for politicians (see here). There must be a commitment to provide free higher education for the poor and support for the missing middle. 

- Demand that Minister of Nzimande end his drop-and-go attitude to the crisis, and brief the portfolio committee in parliament on a monthly basis until a long-time solution is found.

- Make public his government’s strategy to ensure NSFAS sponsored graduates who are now employed pay back the money. The President must lead by example by conducting an audit of government employees who have not paid back government loans. It is time for those who benefited to help others succeed too.

The DA believes that no qualifying student should be denied an education because they are poor. We understand that education is a ticket out of poverty, and it must receive the attention it deserves. For this to happen, we believe that:

- Poor students should get the most support, so that no qualifying student is denied an education simply because they are poor.

-Students who have the money to pay, must pay.

- The missing middle should receive support from government, proportional to their household income.

It’s time for Jacob Zuma and his ANC to end their sponsorship of the higher education crisis in South Africa today. DASO will continue to fight for this to happen because we know that for South Africa to succeed, our education system must succeed too.

Issued by Yusuf Cassim, DASO Leader, 23 September 2016