''A cop-out" and a ''short-term reaction to a crisis" is how analysts have described the government's decision to shield poor and middle-income students from university fee increases. Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande's promise yesterday that the state would find an estimated R2.6-billion to offset fee increases at universities did not satisfy the student campaigners. His announcement triggered immediate protests and the closing of several campuses. Yesterday Wits and Pretoria universities closed their gates as anger mounted. Thousands of University of KwaZulu-Natal students have vowed to march to the provincial legislature to protest against the government not providing free tertiary education - currently being considered by a commission set up by President Jacob Zuma. The University of Cape Town was closed by vice-chancellor Max Price this weekend. Nzimande announced that:
The government would continue to fund poor students through the National Student Financial Aid S...
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