No fees and no classes

● Former president Jacob Zuma’s ambitious promise of free education was spelt out on Wednesday when Malusi Gigaba announced the allocation of R57-billion of the national budget over the medium term to it. But for the 21 000 students registered with the Durban University of Technology, where staff have been on strike for seven weeks over a salary increase impasse, there is no teaching or learning. The academic programme has been suspended and its vice-chancellor is warning that it risks having to “kiss this year goodbye”.