Representatives from UCCF - SA, HESA, SAUS and DHET met on 30 September 2014 to explore
solutions for the violent student protests at some universities. All the parties unanimously agreed
that student protests or demonstrations that result in destruction of university and private
property and infringe upon the rights of others to peaceful assembly cannot be condoned
through being tolerated. In order to stem the tide against these violent student protests, the
parties agreed on a set of measures to be explored, and they include the following:

a. Acknowledging that most of the protests were linked to inadequacy of NSFAS funding
allocations to universities and the administration thereof; each university should consider
developing and publishing, in the spirit of transparency, a NSFAS plan before the end of
each academic year;
b. In the light of the violent nature of some of the student protests, universities were urged to
consider developing, in consultation with relevant structures, a protest policy, which will
spell out the rights and responsibilities of all parties during protests and demonstration;
c. In order to shorten the length of student protests after all internal avenues have been
exhausted and where it is practicably possible, consideration should be given by
universities to establish a Conflict Resolution Committee, as a sub-committee of Council
with only external members with mediation expertise and experience. Such a Committee
should be used by a Vice-Chancellor as a last resort, as part of a deadlock-breaking
mechanism between University Management and Students; and
d. The challenge insufficient funding and the higher demand for Higher Education would
require a further discussion; and it is proposed that it features prominently at the Higher
Education Summit. Addressing the funding deficit is a necessary condition for the overall
health of our Higher Education system.

The highly constructive meeting ended with consensus that there was a need for a longer and
regular engagement between the higher education constituencies in the near future.

Issued by HESA