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President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that his government will not abandon students who protest exclusion on the basis of historic debt.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on Sunday, February 28. Image: GCIS.
JOHANNESBURG – Historic debt has been the obstacle for thousands of students to resume their studies this year, but President Cyril Ramaphosa said his government would not abandon them and reaffirmed their right to education.
The president’s comments came after the student protest from Wits University. Thursday entered the third day of protests against the exclusion of students who owed tuition fees.
LEE: The ingenuity student protest did not justify that type of police response – Ramaphosa
Yesterday’s protests led to the murder of Mthokozisi Ntumba, who was shot during a clash between police and students in Braamfontein.
Many other students from across the country have marched to various locations in solidarity with the students at Wits University.
The president went off script during his scheduled speech to the National House of Traditional Leaders, saying that the issue of education was important and remained a priority for the government.
“We will not abandon our students, we will finance their education because it is their right. They have the right to education and our government, as much as we face enormous difficulties and challenges, we will continue to find solutions because financing education is an investment, we are investing in the future. of South Africa “.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng North Court has set aside the Higher Education Minister’s instruction to Unisa to reduce the number of students for the first time by 20,000 this year. The EFF Student Command took Minister Blade Nzimande to court, saying his mission was to deny prospective students access to higher education.
WATCH: ‘There was overreach by the police’ – Ramaphosa
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