South Africa: Social Media reacts to #FeesMustFall as students protest

The fees must fall campaign took motion in 2015 when students from universities across South Africa protested for free and quality education. This year students have resumed with their protest in a bid to combat fee increments for the 2017 academic year.

According to reports by EWN, Higher Education and Training Minister, Blade Nzimande announced that it will be up to universities to decide their own fee increases for the year 2017 but suggested that the increase not be more than eight percent. The government will however assist qualifying students to fund the gap between the 2015 fee and the adjusted 2017 fee at their institution. The Minister made the announcement in Pretoria on Monday, 19 September.
According to the report, Minister Nzimande stated that the recommendation followed extensive consultation with university vice chancellors, council chairs, student organisations and government.

EWN further reported that the Minister stated that government is committed to finding the resources to support children of households that earn less than R600,000 a year. The subsidy means these students will continue to pay 2015 rates.

Minister Nzimande said that 70 percent of all students are going to benefit from the model, which covers the effects of the increase for NSFAS qualifying students and those in the missing middle.

Here are some reactions from the public:

https://twitter.com/rceasara/status/778128727033126912

#Wits Prof Robert Sherman has asked police to back down and allow students to have a meeting #FeesMustFallReloaded @WitsVuvuzela pic.twitter.com/SICuebffRs

— Nasya Smith (@NasyaSmith_SA) September 20, 2016

https://twitter.com/SthembileCel/status/778153543853338625

Protesters disrupt test at Thuto building Hatfield campus. #FeesMustFallReloaded #Fees2017 #FeesMustFall2016 pic.twitter.com/oBQLzSKE7X

— Perdeby Newspaper (@perdebynews) September 19, 2016

What appears to be explosions or tear gas dispersed as the #FeesMustFall #Fees2017 protests at #WitsUniversity continue. @CityofJoburgZA pic.twitter.com/wPS5OHmhw3

— JoburgTodayTV_Official (@JoburgTodayTV) September 20, 2016

You have 35 ministers & 35 deputies (R19 792 500 wasted on speeding by cabinet every 100k km. That's where u find money for #FeesMustFall

— Musa Muhlari🇿🇦 (@MusaMuhlari) September 20, 2016

https://twitter.com/rceasara/status/778147628672483328

#FeesMustFall SA prisoners get free education + meals + accommodation. Sad when u realise they have better future than our law-abiding youth

— South African Heroes (@SA_Heroes) September 20, 2016

https://twitter.com/WitsSRC/status/778095685153456130

https://twitter.com/my_success21/status/778151274726453248

https://twitter.com/TuksFMNews/status/778174182064582656

Fundisiwe Maseko