Home » Wits University Hit by Protests Over Planned Fee Hikes

Wits University Hit by Protests Over Planned Fee Hikes

JOHANNESBURG – Crowds of protestors took to the campus of Wits University on Wednesday over plans to raise fees by more than 10 percent. The increases are meant to go into effect from 2016, and have been caused, among other things, by reduced subsidies by government, according to reports. A flood of messages about the protest, which began this morning, […]

By SAPeople Staff Writer
14-10-15 13:14
in News

JOHANNESBURG – Crowds of protestors took to the campus of Wits University on Wednesday over plans to raise fees by more than 10 percent.

The increases are meant to go into effect from 2016, and have been caused, among other things, by reduced subsidies by government, according to reports. A flood of messages about the protest, which began this morning, are being tweeted online at #WitsFeesMustFall.

The protesters reportedly stopped cars trying to enter the university, disrupted classes and chanted struggle songs. The university has suspended all classes and activities on campus, reports said.

Numerous students complained on Twitter that the protests were coming at a bad time because they had exams. Others asked how government could be cutting its subsidy to the university.

Many tweeted that education was the right of all, and that students should not be excluded because they could not afford it. In videos posted online, several of them mentioned Adam Habib, the university’s vice chancellor and principal.

Wits chief financial office Linda Jarvis was quoted in the news as saying that the hikes were needed because of the falling rand-dollar exchange rate leading to more expensive books and supplies, salary increases for staff set on a three-year-cycle and inflation of six percent.

The university said in a statement on Wednesday that the students had been consulted numerous times on the fee hikes, according to one news report.