December,7 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines:
Wits SRC vows to protest against 8% fee increase
Mugabe praises resilient Zimbabweans
And, SABC inquiry begins in Parliament

 

The Wits SRC yesterday said it rejected an 8% fee increase and would mobilise students to protest against it in January.

SRC president Kefentse Mkhari said the university’s decision to announce the increase on Monday had been "tactical", as most students had already gone home.

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announced on September 19 that universities could determine their own fee increases for 2017, but that they could not exceed 8%. Students from households with an annual income of up to R600 000 would not have to pay the increases.

Wits said that it was unsustainable to continue with a 0% increase and that it had tried its best to cut non-academic budgets such as support services.

 

President Robert Mugabe praised Zimbabweans yesterday for resilience in the face of economic hardship, in a speech that avoided the recent introduction of "bond notes", a new currency that has raised fears of uncontrolled money-printing.

The southern African nation is grappling with a devastating drought that has left more than 4-million people facing hunger, while the worst financial crisis in seven years has fuelled some of the biggest anti-government protests in a decade.

Zimbabwe launched the bond notes last week, despite warnings they could cause hyperinflation and suggestions they could end Mugabe's long rule.

 

Parliament's ad hoc committee looking into the fitness of the SABC board will begin interviewing witnesses today.

The ad hoc committee's work stalled last week after the last remaining board member, Professor Mbulaheni Maguvhe, took the committee to court citing alleged "bias" from opposition MPs.

Judge Siraj Desai dismissed Maguvhe's application in the Western Cape High Court on Friday, saying he would give reasons at a later state.

The first batch of witnesses to be interviewed includes Auditor General Kimi Makwetu, a representative from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and representatives from the office of the Public Protector.

Other witnesses to be called thereafter include Minister of Communications  , the SABC 8, acting SABC political editor Sophie Mokoena and former board members and employees.

 

Also making headlines:
Zuma okays salary freeze for himself and top public officials

 

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