TUT’s fee move ‘not enough’

PRETORIA: While Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and Sefako Makgatho Health and Science University have announced no fee increases for 2017, peace is not guaranteed, student leaders insist.

SRC president Amukelani Mhlongo said students welcomed the decision. Classes were proceeding normally and students were preparing for the exams.

“However, we still want free higher education for all. We are now awaiting for reports from the Fees Commission so that we can know the way forward.”

The two institutions resolved that fees would remain the same as they were in 2015.

TUT vice-chancellor Loren van Staden said: “The 2017 fee adjustment for students qualifying for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and the so-called missingmiddle will be funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

“The university will absorb the remaining fee adjustment percentage of the self-funded students”.

The University of Pretoria and Unisa, meanwhile, said they had not yet decided whether there would be fee increments in 2017.

Tuks spokesperson Anna-Retha Bouwer said the announcement is pending.

And Unisa’s spokesperson, Martin Ramotshela, said: “The university will communicate the final decision once all consultations have been completed.”