Rhodes University students burned tyres and closed off the campus in Grahamstown on Monday 19 October in protest against fee increases.
Rhodes University students burned tyres and closed off the campus in Grahamstown on Monday 19 October in protest against fee increases.
The students claimed that the current fees are exclusionary to many of the students.
A former student leader who spoke to Grocott's Mail on condition of anonymity told Grocott's Mail the student protest was in response to the recent announcement that the minimum registration fee for studies at the institution would be R45 000.
The student was among a group of around 30 blocking off Lucas Avenue around 6.30am this morning, with furniture, rocks and other debris.
The young man, who is a registered student at Rhodes University, said, "This is to show soidarity with other institutions. We are coming together to tell the institution that enough is enough."
He said the students felt the hike was unjust, particularly for those who do not qualify for National Student Financial Aid Scheme support.
"Some of us can afford fees," he said. "[This protest] is mostly about being in solidarity with those who can't, and showing the institution that not all of us can afford the fees.
"This [protest action]is a statement to the insitution that [the fee increase]is unjust. And then through them, we hope our message gets to the government."
Grocott's Mail came upon the protest at 6.30am and by that time, some of the students had been at their stations since midnight.
Some sat covered in blankets.
Of the day's events, the student, a former senior student leader, said, "Basically these are just ordinary student protests – shutting down student activity – which we have already gained.
"The vice-chancellor announced via a circular around 1.30am that there won't be any lectures or any other academic projects happening today. That's been achieved – so that's one point for us and zero for the institution.
"The second is that the SRC will be meeting with management at 8.30[am], laying out our compaints and telling them that this is what we want."
The student said the protesters were not from any one student group.
"We have seen different [student members of]political parties taking part in this protest – EFF, Sasco, BSM, residence students, student governance leaders. All students in student governance are coming out in solidarity with what is happening."
Later this morning, students said the further increase of fees will do nothing to remedy the situation of transformation at the institution.
Student Representative Council SRC secretary general Lindokuhle Zungu said the government had to intervene to solve the situation at the campus.
“We are obviously fighting for the right cause here," Zungu told Grocott's Mail. "If our demands are not met we will see what steps to take.
"We have informed the management about our concern and we will wait from them now.
"We understand the university has financial obligations and that an income to sustain this is required; however, we hold that it should not be the burden of the students,” said Zungu.
He said the SRC has been constantly arguing for the university to review its fees structure and particularly its initial payment.
The students said they stood together with Wits University and other institutions in the protest on the matter of fee increases.
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