FEES PROTESTS
How campus chaos could serve factions, figures — and sanity
Protesters’ deliberate collapsing of negotiations may be influenced by more immediate political calculations, writes Anthony Butler
The demands for free education and institutional decolonisation that started in South African universities in 2015 reflected the alienation and economic stresses endured by many students. This year, however, the many concessions made by ministers and university managers have done nothing to mollify a new generation of activist leaders. These protesters’ ever-moving goalposts, and their deliberate collapsing of negotiations, may be influenced by more immediate political calculations. The EFF seems to be one prominent actor. Although it superficially resembles a political party, the EFF remains a regional and ethnic "external faction" of the ANC. In the 2014 national and provincial elections, it secured just 2%-3% of the vote in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. But won more than 10% in Gauteng, Limpopo and North West. In 2016, it added only two percentage points to its overall vote share, suggesting it has hit its electoral ceiling below 10%. Its leaders may now seek ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.