MEDIA STATEMENT
BY THE
INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
SADESMO Warns Universities against Increasing Tuition Fees
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PRESS STATEMENT BY: The South African Democratic Students Movement (SADESMO) has warned the Universities against raising tuition fees in 2009. In a strong statement issued today, Sifundo Mntungwa, SADESMO's National Spokesperson stated: "The costs of living caused by the escalating food, electricity and fuel prices, have placed unbearable burdens on the poorest ordinary South Africans, especially parents who have families to look after, to an extent that it is nearly impossible for them to shoulder any more financial burden. "As, SADESMO, we feel the pain and suffering ordinary South Africans like our parents go through. Consequently, we believe it is only fair and human for the management of schools and tertiary institutions not to raise tuition fees next year. It is our view that, as ordinary people are urged to tighten their belts in the face of the ever-rising costs, so must schools and tertiary institutions. "We want to urge and warn all Vice-Chancellors and their Committees as well as schools not to even think of raising tuition fees next year. And we wish to serve notice that, should they proceed regardless, we will seriously consider engaging other youth and student formations in this country with a view to work on a common strategy to fight such a move. "Instead of
burdening our parents with higher tuition fees, SADESMO suggests
that the Department of Education and the private sector must
come to the rescue of our education - not just for our sake as
students but for their sake as well, because there can be no
stability in a country where citizens are not educated and have
no skills. We believe that - more than ever before - now is the
time for public-private partnership." FOR FURTHER
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