Varsities meet with police

Fees report set for public release

A high-level police management team has held a meeting with university principals to discuss fresh security plans to deal with a potential new wave of university protests over #FeesMustFall.

This comes as a commission of inquiry into tertiary fees is expected to table findings on the feasibility of free higher education.

President Jacob Zuma hinted in his recent public lecture that the report would be released soon.

Universities South Africa spokeswoman Mateboho Green confirmed the meeting with police, but said it was not on #FeesMustFall.

“It was agreed that universities, the SAPS and the DHET [Department of Higher Education and Training] will work collaboratively when illegal protests occur, particularly when there are attempts to disrupt academic programmes and when protests turn violent,” Green said.

“The SAPS committed that all their interventions will be deployed within the framework of the constitution.

“All parties, including the DHET, agreed to prioritise in all their actions, the safety and security of students, academics, staff and neighbouring communities.”

The commission’s report was initially set for release in June, but it asked for an extension from the president.

The commission, chaired by Judge Jonathan Heher, started its work in January last year after protests flared up in universities countrywide.

In an interview with Sowetan ahead of his inauguration on August 12, Vaal University of Technology vice-chancellor Professor Gordon Zide said the fact that a meeting took place signalled the report might not contain good news.

“It is a preparation of the vice-chancellors. Again, in 2008, there was a similar report. This is the same of the old. It is not going to come up with any surprises,” Zide said.

He added that he backed the students’ campaign.

“No South African vicechancellor can actually be against the campaign of #FeesMustFall. We all support that. However, we say, no university on its own can say ‘at my university there is free education’,” he said.

Zide said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that free education was afforded to students.

National police spokeswoman Major-General Sally de Beer said police meet regularly with various stakeholders as part of their mandate.

She did not respond to questions about what was discussed at the meeting.

The South African Union of Students secretary-general Sthembiso Ndlovu said the organisation was prepared for any outcome.

“We are not threatened. We are ready for anything. We will begin our mass meetings in universities from Monday.

“There are various issues in the sector, including #FeesMustFall, housing of students and the victimisation of students,” he said.