September 21, 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.
Making headlines:

Wits suspends academic activities amid renewed fees protests

Nzimande condemns violence on university campuses

And, ANCYL rejects ANC's statement on varsity fees

 

The University of the Witwatersrand has suspended all academic activities from today in the wake of fresh student protests over fees hikes.

The protests erupted on Monday soon after Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announced that universities could decide their own fee increases capped at eight percent.

The protests continued yesterday and became increasingly violent with running battles between students and security guards at the main Wits campus.

 

The violent protests at some universities that led to damage of property and has interfered with academic programmes were wholly unacceptable, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande said yesterday. 

He said it was most disturbing to see such violent protests inflamed by rogue elements after wide consultation was undertaken on the measures announced this week to address the ongoing issue of university fees.

He said the dialogue with students should continue; but damage to property and violence could not be tolerated.

 

The ANC Youth League yesterday distanced itself from an ANC statement expressing support for Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande’s fee increase announcement.

Youth League secretary general Njabulo Nzuza said the statement was contrary to a decision on university fee increases which the ANC’s highest decision-making body, its national executive committee, had made.

Statements that contradicted the NEC’s decisions were “bleeding” the ANC, he said.

Nzuza said as a NEC member, he was distancing himself from the statement.

 

Also making headlines:

Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga said he was not used to being a mayor.

National Treasury called on NSFAS beneficiaries with jobs to start repaying their loans.

And, the Right2Know Campaign said SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng should give up.

 

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today