Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande says that free higher education is not affordable in South Africa.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, a number of the country\u2019s leading institutions remain closed as students engage in protest action, standing against proposed increases in fees in 2016, under a campaign: #FeesMustFall.<\/p>\n
Nzimande on Tuesday proposed a reduced fee increase to 6% from more than 10%. This offer was rejected by student representatives, who want zero percent, with many calling for education to be free.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Nzimande said that the department’s decision was final on its offer, despite a march to parliament, by thousands of students.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Talk 702<\/a>, Nzimande said that the aim of government is to provide free education at a tertiary level for poor students\u00a0– not for everyone. “As a country we cannot afford this for everyone. Those who are wealthy must pay,” he said.<\/p>\n “At least we must be able to assist poor students over the years – like we have done quite impressively, to be honest\u00a0–\u00a0in terms of the national student financial aid scheme.”<\/p>\n When asked if government has no money to provide free tertiary education, the minister said: “The situation as it stands now is dire. Unless government decides to reprioritise, but the situation does not look good at all.”<\/p>\n Nzimande said that the government has significantly increased the national student financial aid scheme, from R3 billion in 2009 to R9.5 billion in 2015, “but obviously that is not enough”.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the minister had previously said that he was in favour of free education. \u201cThe minister is in favour of fee-free education, it is ANC policy,\u201d Khaye Nkwanyana said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the reality is that we don\u2019t have the budget for free education due to serious competing social needs in the current fiscus.”<\/p>\n In his medium term budget policy statement\u00a0 on Wednesday, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said that without growth, there would be very little new money to allocate.<\/p>\n This is how much money South Africa\u2019s top universities make<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Here are South Africa\u2019s 26 universities<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on education in SA<\/h3>\n