Malusi Gigaba favours fee-free varsity system
The measure would cost an estimated R40bn
Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has confirmed that the government is working on the provision of free higher education "in a sustainable way". The confirmation was buried in his reply on Thursday to the debate in the National Assembly on the Adjustments Appropriation Bill and the medium-term budget policy statement. There has been some uncertainty whether or not free higher education — which the Heher commission of inquiry and the Davis Tax Committee have both concluded is unaffordable — is on the government’s agenda. The controversial measure, costing an estimated R40bn, was proposed by a family associate of President Jacob Zuma. The mooted plan to introduce it despite the government’s severe fiscal constraints is understood to have led to the departure of Treasury deputy director-general Michael Sachs, who headed the budget office. Gigaba said simply concentrating on fiscal consolidation was not the solution to the country’s challenges. What was needed was economic growth. "The eco...
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