UP SRC temporarily suspended over fee increase protest

The University of Pretoria (UP) student representative council (SRC) has suspended protest action against the rising inflation that has resulted in the increase in registration fees.

SRC president Thuto Mashile said the protest action was suspended because members of the SRC awaited the start of the disciplinary hearings for their “peaceful demonstration” at the main campus entrance in Hatfield recently.

She said the institution is set to take action against the group of students who allegedly disrupted classes during the protest last Monday.

Last week, the SRC protested the increased registration fees for 2023 and 2024 at the tertiary institution.

“The SRC has been temporarily suspended and are awaiting a disciplinary hearing.

“We don’t know when that will take place, however we had a meeting with the university’s legal department on Thursday,” she said.

“The unfortunate reality is that this is not simply an increase in the registration fee but a means to gate-keep higher education. This is not exclusively about numbers, it is about our students’ futures, their hopes and aspirations, their families and communities.

“We cannot stand by and let a public institution of higher education enforce anti-poor mechanisms so drastically and unapologetically.”

Mashile said the protest action was a result of continuous rejection for the increases.

“The SRC had embarked on a large-scale online engagement with our students and received over 2 700 responses as of August 22 rejecting the registration fee increment.

“This was done via a Google Form, as most students were either writing exams or had left campus for recess.”

Mashile said UP executive management said that the fees would increase for 2023 and 2024.

She said the SRC engaged the university on several occasions since June to propose alternative solutions.

Gauteng SA student congress (Sasco) chairperson Nthulane Phathutshedzo said the student movement was aware and concerned about the harsh suspension of UP SRC president Mashile and five of her colleagues.

“We will resort to legal action to defend members of Sasco being abused by institutions of higher learning just because they refuse to be bullied, it is legitimate that SRC members will refuse [reject] fee increment as it is their sole responsibility to defend their primary stakeholders.”

The SRC protest is against the following increases:

– SA undergraduate students: R5 000 (2022) to R7 500 (2023) to R10 000 (2024).
– SA postgraduate students: R7 500 (2022) to R10 000 (2023) to R12 500 (2024).
– International undergraduate students: R40 000 (2023)
– International postgraduate students: 50% of total tuition fee (2023)

The suspension of the protest follows UP enforcing disciplinary measures against those it said were in breach of its policies for the safety of students and staff.

In a statement, UP vice-chancellor and principal Prof Tawana Kupe said “a small group of students disrupted a few classes on the university’s main campus in Hatfield. This is unacceptable, and we are taking steps against those in breach of our institution’s policies and who have made themselves guilty of misconduct”.

Kupe said lengthy discussions about the increases were held with all stakeholders including the SRC in 2021.

He said this would be the first fee increase since 2016, and assured students their increase was still lower than the first payment fees at most other universities.

“The student leadership indicated that it understands the need for a first payment increase, although it would have liked it to be lower,” Kupe said.

“The university held off increasing fees earlier because of the financial hardship of students and the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the financial situation of the university has meant that an increase can regrettably no longer be put off.

“The costs are rising because of inflation.”

Kupe said students funded by NSFAS and other external sponsors would not be required to make the increased first payment.

The university currently has 20 000 students who benefit from financial aid.

He urged students who cannot make the first payment to approach NSFAS or the university for financial assistance.

“An increase of this nature is never easy. All other available alternatives were carefully considered and we were left with no other option. Not only is this in the interest of the university’s financial sustainability but it is also part of our continuing efforts to ensure we provide all our students with quality education,” he said.

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