ANC Women’s League Pledges Solidarity with Students at Universities of All Fees to fall

The ANCWL , as the voice and advocate of women's views,  would like to pledge its solidarity with the students at the various universities in South Africa who have shown courage and thirst for education but face exclusion because of their circumstances.

Education in the country is an apex priority and a societal issue. At the crucial time of our students writing their final examinations, all of society needs to be involved to resolve the spread of protests.

We want to urge and remind the management and/or council of institutions of higher learning that the Freedom Charter stated that the 'doors of learning shall be opened' and that the exorbitant fees systematically hinders access to tertiary education for the majority of our students.

We commend the women student leaders who led the peaceful demonstrations forcing management to listen to their demands. The plight of women to make it to tertiary institutions has not been an easy path as the majority of them come from marginalised areas and still continue to fight for recognition in leadership positions. We acknowledge the autonomy of these institutions, but the fact is that they do not exist in isolation of socio-economic conditions of the state.

The fee increases show total inconsideration of the economic situation of the country and generally far above the inflation rate.  Parents who have to pay these fees - majority of which are women- are the poor and working class.

The country faces triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment of which access to education provides long term measures to tackle these. The constraints and demands put by our intelligencia lacks emotional intelligence. We are certain that the hope of our young people is at a dim light and this route will not favour them to entrench poverty, sexism and racial abuse.

We reject the registration fees paid upfront which are a major barrier for the poor who only have good results and depend on the student financial aid scheme to further their education.

We demand a proper consultation and practical consideration of the realities confronted by our young people in determining the objectives behind fee increases which are currently ill-informed.  This gap opens the institutions to further other demands and complicate further the relations in campuses.

We call upon University Councils not to treat students like children, but engage in an open and transparent dialogue. The principle of access to education is key to the transformation of our country. The stance of these increases will further shrink the numbers and exclude the poor academically capable students.

We condemn violence, and destruction of property and support peaceful demonstrations.

We appreciate and hope that the proposed meeting between the Minister of Higher Education with the Leadership of the Universities will yield positive outcomes and a basis to discuss comprehensively the broader issues facing these institutions.

Forward with ensuring a successful academic year 2015! Forward.

Issued by Toko Xasa, Head of Communications, ANCWL, 20 October 2015