Pic courtesy X: @DrBladeNzimande
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, has dismissed as false, information he intends to increase university fees for the 2024 academic year.
This after media reports this week suggested that Nzimande had proposed universities increase tuition and residence fees by 4.5% and 6.5%, respectively.
“The minister has become aware of the circulation of false and ill-informed suggestions that he, as minister, intends to increase university fees for the 2024 academic year.
According to a statement, Nzimande said he wishes to remind the public that the he "plays absolutely no role in determining the fees of universities” and that the determination rests with university councils.
“Therefore, the minister has no such authority to determine the individual fees of universities and to do so, would be to act beyond his powers on the part of the minister.
“However, given the socio-economic reality of our country, through the department, each year, the minister usually provides the universities with a framework that should guide how they determine their fee structure.”
The department explained that the minister does this with the sole intention of ensuring that, in how universities determine their fee structures, students and in particular those from poor and working-class backgrounds, are not adversely affected by the fee determinations of universities.
“The Minister regards it as disappointing and somewhat mischievous that formal organisations and long-standing media houses, would make public statements on university fees, without first informing themselves on the process of determining university fees.”
