COSATU supports SASCO: The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall be Opened!
The Congress of South African Trade Unions supports the protests led by the South African Students Congress (SASCO) - at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Durban University of Technology (DUT), Vaal University of Technology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Mangosuthi University of Technology and elsewhere - over their dissatisfaction with the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The federation also condemns the eviction of students from residences following SASCO-led protests. In the case of the TUT, the North Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of the Student Representative Council and granted them an interdict against the unlawful eviction of students. The university was ordered to pay the costs of the application.
The DUT suspended classes, shut down the institution and gave students 48 hours' notice to vacate residences, leaving hundreds stranded with nowhere to sleep. The KZN ANC Youth League joined the protests. "It is very unfortunate," said spokesperson Siboniso Duma, "that the university has responded in such a heavy-handed manner to what appears to be legitimate demands of students to have the doors of higher education opened to all as enshrined in our Constitution."
NSFAS's lack of funds continues to exclude those who are poor from gaining access to higher learning, even if they have met the requirement of being academically deserving and financially needy.
SASCO president Ntuthuko Makhombothi says the situation has been made worse by universities increasing their fees exorbitantly. "This has resulted in the disenfranchisement of the working class and poor students and their condemnation to unemployment and poverty," he said.
COSATU agrees fully with SASCO that "it is shocking and extremely disturbing that the institutions that were confronted with the problems were the previously black institutions where children of the workers and the poor study".
"The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall be Opened!" says the Freedom Charter. "Higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships awarded on the basis of merit."
Sadly the exclusion of poor students means we are moving further away from this ideal. In a new version of the iniquitous ‘user-pays' principle, the rich can buy their way into higher education while the poor are excluded for lack of money. It is transformation in reverse!
COSATU acknowledges the attempts by Higher Education and Learning Minister Blade Nzimande to overcome these problems and welcomes the R1 billion which he has given to NSFAS.
This will however be insufficient to fund all the students who should qualify for admission. The minister must pressurise the Minister of Finance, in his budget speech later this month to release the funds which are needed to ensure that the principles of the Freedom Charter are being observed!
Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, February 4 2014
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