October, 14 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines:
Nzimande thanks #FeesMustFall for highlighting 'missing middle'
'Malema a hypocrite' says Nzimande
And, Parent group lobbies Parliament to intervene in fees crisis

Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande says he has the #FeesMustFall student movement to thank for highlighting the issue of the "missing middle".

Speaking at the commission of inquiry into fees yesterday Nzimande said the missing middle should actually be categorised as poor students.

He announced last month that university and college increases would be up to the institutions, but would be capped at 8%.

He also announced that students on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme would not bear the brunt of the increase, as it would be subsidised by the government.

They would also subsidise the increases for students who fell into the "missing middle", where households earned up to R600 000.

Following his announcement, protests flared up at tertiary institutions around the country, with students demanding free education

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has been described as a hypocrite and an opportunist by Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande.

Nzimande was responding to Malema's call for students to continue with protests for free education.

Nzimande said EFF leaders were hypocrites because they had completed their university degrees.

He added that Malema's statement did not benefit the poor but instead ensured poor students would become losers.

A civil organisation representing concerned parents has requested that Parliament convene a special and urgent sitting of both Houses to help resolve the ongoing fees crisis.

The Higher Education Parents Dialogue appeared before a joint sitting of Parliament's higher education committees on Wednesday along with the department of higher education to present its requests before MPs.

The group is a national alliance that includes parents, former progressive student leaders, and activists who want to be a voice for concerned parents in the fees debate.

The organisation’s national chairperson Irvin Phenyane called on MPs to convene a special, emergency sitting on the matter to give clear direction and support for a peaceful resolution.

Phenyane said protesting students and university leaders should urgently sit down and find ways of reaching agreements on the principle of free education and completing the academic year.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today