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The DA will tomorrow march peacefully to Parliament to demand that President Jacob Zuma’s government provide more funding to higher education.

Our nation faces a serious crisis. The illegal and violent action of a few have forced campus shut-downs, while not enough funding exists to support poor students and the “missing middle”.

Chronic under-funding and a lack of leadership by Zuma and the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, has only compounded the problem, forcing fee-increases and the tensions that arise as a result.

This has to come to an end if we are to save higher education in South Africa, and ensure that our country’s future is not jeopardised.

Indeed, tens of thousands of matriculants who will complete their schooling this year will rely on our universities to remain open. Our health sector will need medical graduates to fill critical, life-saving vacancies. And our economy needs the research that drives innovation, grows the economy and creates jobs.

The DA supports free higher education for the poor and that support must also be provided to the “missing middle”. We firmly believe that no person should be denied an education because they are poor and no deserving student should be left behind because of the circumstances of their birth.

It is time that our government started taking the steps needed to realise this.

The DA has received permission for our gathering, and followed all due processes thoroughly. We intend to voice our concerns in a responsible fashion that shows respect to others.

We are aware that there are some individuals intent on disrupting our conduct tomorrow.  We urge all those concerned about higher education to protest peacefully, as we will do.

Violence and destruction is never an acceptable form of protest and only undermines the important call for more funding for higher education in South Africa.

Issued by DASO