UKZN management and student bodies in talks over campus shutdown

It comes after the university took a decision to suspend classes at UKZN Pietermaritzburg campus yesterday and today, following protests there yesterday.

Several students began protest action at the university on Monday, disrupting classes and rendering access to the institution inaccessible. They were protesting against proposed fee increments for the 2017 academic year, and poor living conditions.

But UKZN's Lesiba Seshoka says they're hopeful that the academic programme will resume tomorrow.

"This is almost the end of the year and we would like students to derive maximum benefits from their studies. So we are appealing to the student leadership to understand that engagements just can't take place forever, while the academic programme is suspended. To come forward and continue to engage as we have agreed, so that we resolve all the issues that are in our jurisdiction," he said. 

Meanwhile, Student Representative Councils from some of the universities in KZN say they're prepared to take to the streets should university fees increase next year.

Yesterday, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announced that students should know by the end of this month if there will be fee increases for next year or not.

The announcement was initially set for Friday but was postponed for further consultation.

UKZN SRC secretary Philani Ntshobeni says if fees increase, government will have to meet some conditions.

"We want full support of the student union. As we are going toward the students, the students are aware of that and the only thing we need is the go-ahead from the students, then we'll support the students. Because as the student union has outlined, this is very critical," he added.

MUT SRC President Ronnie Madlala says they will not change their stance.

 "We have said we want free education. The President set-up the commission to say they must respond to the call of free education. We are still waiting for the response of free education in October. It can't therefore be true that before October we are increasing fees."

The student leaders say they will also await the report of the commission appointed by President Jacob Zuma to look into the feasibility of free tertiary education.

The SRC leaders of the Durban University of Technology and UniZulu couldn't be reached for comment this afternoon.

Earlier today, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said that the issue of free higher education was an important focus of government’s four-day Cabinet Lekgotla.