The Saturday SRC mass meeting
Full details of the mass meeting that was held by the Student Representative Council (SRC), students and the parents
On 1 October 2016, the SRC held a mass meeting in effort of engaging students and parents on finding solutions to the national movement called Fees Must Fall (#FeesMustFall). The meeting opened a platform for students to express their point of views and share their problems on the matter.
Student 1, Jim, raised a point of order, stating, “I am making a request for white parents to leave the venue because black parents are excluded in this meeting since the majority of them cannot afford to be here”.
After this request, the meeting became chaotic as students started singing, making numerous requests for parents to leave the venue. They were saying that this is a students’ matter. Therefore, it should be resolved by students. Some parents left and others remained.
The students eventually settled down and the meeting commenced as expected. The president of the SRC Nicholas Nyati took the podium and said, “We have organised this meeting to discuss a way forward”. The chairperson of the meeting then allowed students to voice their view point.
Student 2, an international student: I would like to challenge everyone to find strategies on how this free decolonised education will be achieved in a peaceful manner.
Student 3: We have to unite in this fight and put our political differences aside so as to find a way forward.
Student 4: Some people are sceptical about this protest. Therefore, I would like to address those who are sceptical. Our parents used to toyi-toyi when they fought for their rights during the apartheid era and they succeeded to get liberation. Therefore, we are also fighting this battle by protesting to achieve free decolonised education for the future generation, like our parents did.
Student 5, Baxolile Nodada: The management has a responsibility to ensure that students’ historical debts are cleared and students have access to free decolonised education.
Student 6, Lizo Jim: There are three reasons we are striking, the first one being APS increasing drastically, the second one being students who registered on debt relief programme and lastly free decolonised education
Student 7: Let us all understand that this is not a fight against white people but a fight for free decolonised education
Student 8: I won’t focus on white and black, but I will focus on the segregation that this institution entertains. We were given debt relief but now we are stuck in the
system. What should we do next year? The segregation is between poor and rich, just to be clear.
Student 9, an international student: NMMU needs to realise that people who are calling for transformation are not criminals but heroes.
Student 10, Thanduxolo Gala: We need to realise that there is no student who leaves home to go to university to protest. It is hurtful when people think we protest for fun. There are students who cannot afford fees, then there are students who can. It becomes problematic when you’re a student who can afford and you take a selfish posture. I understand that there are students who want to graduate. The quicker the students who can contribute to the social cause, the sooner we can go to class.
Student 11, Xola Quvile: It saddens me that a black man can be used to suppress another black man. Biko was referred to as a criminal. Today, we are fighting the social injustice we are born to. Meanwhile The Herald depicts us as criminals. We are begging for the sake of humanity to give this government political will because the response of Blade Nzimande shows there is none.
Student 12, Sive Gceba: Many of you are saying you need two modules to graduate- ‘can we please go back to class’. But let me tell you this has not reached River Jordan.
Student 13, Kwanda Jakalashe: The call for free education is genuine. I also have parents who are suffering. Students break in a song while Jakalashe talks. Shouting “You have not suffered”.
Student 14, Josh Rogan: We need to take emotions and put them into policy. I don’t want free education now, I want it forever. I understand there’s a division but I don’t get why.
Student 15, Sanele Khawula: Some people think that people who are for Fees Must Fall are struggling academically. But they are critical thinkers.
Student 16: We have succeeded to do something that the management has failed to do. We have had a dialogue with white people. Besides, the issue of fees falling, we have an institution that has shown that they don’t take us seriously. On Thursday, we are intensifying the struggle and we are calling upon everyone here. We are going to shut down this city. We are not playing. The call for free education can solve so many problems. If ever there was a time to demand free education, that time has come.