Hundreds of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University students engaged in the Fees-Must-Fall campaign marched to the offices of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber on Thursday.
The mass demonstration, termed the "mother of all marches" began in front of City Hall and under the watchful eye of the police, the students marched several kilometres to the Business Chamber offices near Parsons Hill.
The large group, estimated to be about 500, were met and addressed by Business Chamber CEO, Kevin Hustler, after he received a memorandum of demands from the students.
NMMU fees-must-fall movement student leader, Nathi Dwayi, said the purpose of the march to the Business Chamber was because the private sector had a responsibility to ensure that educates citizens of the country.
"We are here to appeal for their financial support even in terms of job opportunities etc. We understand that government has its own limitations in funding free education but we understand also that there’s enough money in this country, if the private sector plays its role. So we are to the Business Chamber to say that how can we explore means of funding university students, how can we ensure that even in terms of your employment opportunities you assist in redressing the inequalities of this country," he said.
Addressing the media after the march, Dwayi said that the planned legal action by some parents of NMMU students would not achieve its goal.
He added that the courts have been called on to solve issues on various campuses and numerous times these have failed.
Dwayi said the reason why court orders and interdicts have failed in his view, is because one cannot apply a legal solution to what is a political problem.
"Instead of them saying how can we find each other in ensuring that at least our children go back to school and at the same time assist to the cause, they would rather run to the court. A judge's role is not to ensure that children are going to school, he will apply the law and we expect that indeed perhaps they might have an interdict against us but it will not address the serious conditions on the ground. We do not have much confidence that what they seek to achieve will be achieved unless they come forth to us and engage. We have been engaging with various stakeholders" he said.
Meanwhile, the CEO of the NMB Business Chamber, Kevin Hustler said he would present the student's memorandum to the Chamber Board.
Hustler said as the CEO he could not make any commitments on behalf of the Chamber board.
He also committed the Chamber to engaging with the student leadership on the issues stated on their memorandum.
Hustler highlighted other areas of concern for the Business Chamber, stating it encourages it's members to provide bursaries and also take on NMMU students for internships.
He warned of a potential lost generation if the academic year is lost.
"There's also a possible loss to a generation coming out of high school with their grade 12 qualifications being able to access university in the next year" he said.
The NMMU's management warned last week Tuesday that a further two week shutdown would result in the loss of the 2017 academic calendar.
In a written statement the NMB Business Chamber has urged students involved with the protest action to commit to the reopening of "our university."
"We do not believe, however, that bringing educational institutions to a close is helpful to this cause as this will impact on a generation of students if they are not able to complete the academic year of 2016. The closing of tertiary educational institutions will also have vast financial implications not only on the students, their families and the institutions, but also to the broader economy of the country"
