The United Front of Johannesburg is joining the march on Saturday, 3rd of December 2016, where parents, community members, trade unions, civil society, students and outsourced workers will take to the streets of Johannesburg to show their support for the struggle for free decolonised education for all and the end of outsourcing. The march starts at the University of Johannesburg at 9 a.m. and at Wits at 10 a.m. proceeding to Constitutional Hill.

This march has been called particularly to express our condemnation of state repression of the student movement by the state and university managements. Instead of addressing the student demands the authorities are using the iron fist against students. One student leader, Bonginkosi Education Khanyile, has been behind bars since September 27. The securitisation of university campuses continues unabated. The right of protest is under attack.

Free decolonised education is a common struggle that everyone must support. Students face the burden of high debts and financial exclusion, parents have to pay ridiculous high fees to fund their children’s studies. The whole working class suffers when there is no free education. All of us will benefit if education is free for all. Education cannot remain a privilege for the already privileged. Students, workers and community members must be united in facing this struggle. 

The privatisation of education has the same roots as the installation of pre-paid meters in our communities. The ruling class wants to make water, electricity, services and education a commodity that only rich people can afford. We have the responsibility to fight back. Students have been in the front line since last year, and are now facing arrests, denial of bail, suspensions, expulsions and court interdicts. The intimidation and violence from private security and state police is increasing. It is the same violence that is used to crush service delivery and other protests in our communities and to attack strikes in the workplace e.g. in Marikana.

We call for workers and community organisations, including our political ally NUMSA, to attend the march in mass. Workers produce the wealth that is used to run our universities, it is time for workers to take back the power to decide how resources are spent in our society. Free decolonised education for all is possible if we take the money from private companies and international corporations!

On Saturday 3rd December, let’s march together in support of these demands:

• The immediate release and dropping of charges against students involved in the struggle
• The reinstatement of all suspended and expelled students
• The de-militarisation of our universities
• Stop Outsourcing. Workers must be insourced at a living wage with all benefits.
• Stop the corporatisation of our universities. Education is a public good and must contribute to the human wealth of the people.
• Free, quality, decolonised education for all from crèche to university and beyond.

1. We need education and to use our knowledge in the interests of the working class and the poor
2. We need to rouse ourselves and spread our enthusiasm to build a new, equal and just society
3. We need to organise ourselves and fight to defeat the violence of state repression and the exploitation of the capitalist system.

UNITED FRONT OF STUDENTS/YOUTH, WORKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN STRUGGLE

For more information please contact: Trevor Ngwane 0790307657, Lindiwe Malindi 0845814146