November 2

November 2

http://allafrica.com/stories/201610270007.html

On October 26^th, Fees Must Fall protesters marched through Cape Town to the parliament building making the same demands they’ve been making for free and decolonized education. The march occurred after the Minister of Finance announced budget increases to dedicate an additional R17 billion to tertiary schools over the next three years, R9 billion of which will go to financing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and R8 billion will go to covering the fee increases for low to middle income household families. However, just as the march was winding down, violence broke out yet again after protester set fire to a cardboard coffin with an image of the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande attached to it. The protesters threw it at police officers after setting it on fire and the police responded with stun grenades. Of the several thousand students involved in the march, reports are estimating that only one hundred of them instigated and participated in the violence. It was evident that the police were their target. Additionally, some stores were looted before they could close their doors. This article features a quote from one UCT student saying “its not about the university, we are going to the politicians today,” in reference to why she decided to join this particular march to parliament. I find it interesting but also a positive thing that students are starting to take a more direct stance against the political structures contributing to their struggle. After all, it is the policies and practices the government chooses to adopt that ultimately determine how universities go about their funding. One of the articles I read a few weeks ago featured a quote from a professor who also thought the students were misguided in going so fiercely after university staff and administrators because their hands are also tied. Some of the damage to university property, beside the colonial symbols, could have been avoided if students had decided to take this approach earlier. So far it is unclear if any students were arrested after this particular protest. What is clear is that students are not relenting until their demands are met, and so far these protests are the only thing that seems to force the government to action.