How the WITS student voting will work

[BBSA]

Transformation doesn't happen in a single moment - Adam Habib

University of the Witwatersrand Vice Chancellor Prof. Adam Habib says the level of instability in the universities is devastating.

He says the Faculty of Science programmes, in particular, will be interrupted for the rest of the year if universities do not resume academic activities within two weeks.

Habib says 17 institutions are currently shutdown due to ongoing Fees Must Fall student protests for free decolonised education.

The institutions that can address inequality will be destroyed by the very people who want to address inequality in society he says.

If nobody graduates this year, it means nobody can come next year.

— Prof. Adam Habib, Wits Vice Chancellor
My fear is that the people who are playing around with the system have no idea what they are playing around with. We can't continue like this. The level of instability in the system is devastating.

— Prof. Adam Habib, Wits Vice Chancellor
I have heard situations where staff members want to throw in the towel. They are saying we are not prepared to live under these circumstances.

— Prof. Adam Habib, Wits Vice Chancellor
The institutions that can address inequality will be destroyed by people who want to address inequality in the society.

— Prof. Adam Habib, Wits Vice Chancellor

http://www.702.co.za/articles/113151/transformation-doesn-t-happen-in-a-single-moment-adam-habib

 

[Stefanmuller]

I would much rather bring in a lower tax bracket, lets say from R50k to the current 18% margin bring in a 1% rate. At least then everyone pays, and that pool of taxpayer money gets a lot larger. Sick and tired of the so called rich having to pay for everything.

Imagine having to have paid your own studies, plus interest, plus graduate tax so the next person can have it for free?

 

[j4ck455]

No it's getting boring because it's a 312 post thread that's now repeating itself which in and of itself is just repeating another 297 post thread. How many times do you think I've had to repeat myself in these conversations. It's getting boring [highlight]AF[/highlight].

What do you mean by "AF"?

You have the most posts in this thread, have you considered that it is you that is trying to force your opinion on everyone else in an attempt to drown out proper debate on the subject?

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/misc.php?do=whoposted&t=845040

 

[CruelBreeze]

No, it is not Sammy. The students do not want NSFAS, so now the government will have to step in and do the funding.

NSFAS money is already being paid by the government to institutions on behalf of students. Money that is not being paid back by students. Thats essentially that money is already in play.

No, the amount needed is about 40 Billion and not 19 Billion so you tax will have even a bigger impact on our economy.

Why the hell would you make an "its 40 billion" post followed by a "your 19 billion is wrong post" to mean the same thing? Angithi we're already having the 40 billion discussion in reference to cost. 19 billion is wrong sounds a lot more like you're saying the amount collected wouldn't be 19 billion.
Now to actually answer this post, you're talking about 40 billion as if it's we've reached a consensus on the total additional being it. We can talk about whether 19 billion is enough when we've spoken about how much it would cost. Right now we're still talking.

LOL your naivety is precious. We have raised tax rates for all income bands 1% in 2015, what was it's net effect? What happened to our growth the last two years? Why are we teetering on the brink of a downgrade? So many questions so little substance in your answers.

• A drop in commodity prices. This has had a significant impact on a major source of foreign exchange earnings;
• A disruption in production due to industrial action by labour unions that has been badly managed by all concerned: the private sector, union leadership as well as government; and
• The troubling mixed signals the country’s leadership has been sending to the nation and the world on effective governance.

Clearly you're wrong about the main reasons for the possible downgrade. And clearly tax is a fix (though a quick fix) not a cause.

Government responds with band aid
The government revealed its strategy for dealing with the dim economic state that precipitated the threat of downgrade in its most recent budget. It was the usual response of austere posturing made up of a concoction of measures. These included government spending cuts, a civil service job freeze and increases in revenue by hiking "sin taxes" on alcohol, tobacco, sugary drinks, fuel, environmental degradation and capital gains.

I would much rather bring in a lower tax bracket, lets say from R50k to the current 18% margin bring in a 1% rate. At least then everyone pays, and that pool of taxpayer money gets a lot larger. Sick and tired of the so called rich having to pay for everything.

Imagine having to have paid your own studies, plus interest, plus graduate tax so the next person can have it for free?

R50 000? Come on, bro. And nobody said only the rich must pay. All taxable income brackets.

What do you mean by "AF"?

You have the most posts in this thread, have you considered that it is you that is trying to force your opinion on everyone else in an attempt to drown out proper debate on the subject?

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/misc.php?do=whoposted&t=845040

Google it.

Actually I have the most posts in this thread because most people direct their posts at me. A no one is trying to force my idea on anybody. We're all having a conversation aren't we. And it really wouldn't be a debate if everybody agreed on it would it.

 

[Vrotappel]

SOUTH AFRICA AND THE RATINGS AGENCIES - III STANDARD & POOR'S

Reasons for a possible change in the outlook

A downgrade by Standard and Poor’s could occur if: GDP fails to improve in line with agency’s current expectations
Wealth levels continue to fall in US dollar terms
Weakening institutions as a result of political interference affect the government policy framework
General government debt and guarantees to weak government-related entities exceed 60% of GDP throughout the forecast period.
Fiscal flexibility is reduced

Increasing expenditure on items that does not stimulate growth will be counterproductive. If a downgrade comes there will be much less money to spend.

 

[Arthur]

Zuma and the Castroists wouldn't mind a downgrade. The ensuing crisis will give them the excuse they need to dramatically increase state control, which is what they want.

 

[BBSA]

Does the students only want free tuition fees, or do they also want free accommodation?

 

[TehStranger]

STATEMENT: Preliminary results of #WitsPoll of staff shows 91% were in favour of reopening on Monday, 3 Oct. Final results tbc.
Dear Colleagues
There have been several enquiries from staff members wanting to know the results of the staff poll. We still do not have the final report from the auditors, but a preliminary letter from them indicates that of the approximately 2200 staff that responded, 91% were in favour of reopening tomorrow, Monday, 3 October 2016 while 8% did not want classes to go ahead. About 1% of those who responded, did so with a blank email.
We are expecting the full report tomorrow, after which a detailed update will be circulated.
Thank you
SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM

Source: Wits Facebook page

STATEMENT: Wits SET clarifies its position on quality, free higher education.
There have been several calls from students and staff for the Senior Executive Team to clarify its position on free education.
The Senior Executive Team supports the call for access to quality, free higher education for the poor and the so-called missing middle. In this regard, management commits to working towards this goal with all stakeholders in the sector, including student leaders.
We are willing to consult with the leaders of various constituencies on this matter, and if there is broad consensus from the University community, a General Assembly, through the resolution of Council, can be called within the next two weeks to solidify Wits’ stance on this issue. If consensus is reached by all constituencies and a decision is taken at the General Assembly for the University to participate in a public protest, then the executive management will support such a public demonstration.
The University further commits to working with the leaders of relevant stakeholders in the sector to engage on this matter at the national level.
It would be opportune to build on the work of staff and students compiled and presented by Professor Hlonipha Mokoena to the Heher Commission which puts forward models on how South Africa can progressively achieve free education for the poor and what is referred to as the missing middle.
The transformation of the curriculum is a key component of the University’s transformation programme, and a matter that the University will continue to prioritise.
A further statement on whether the University will reopen tomorrow will follow at 17:00.
Thank you
SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM

Source: Wits Facebook page

 

[daveza]

Does the students only want free tuition fees, or do they also want free accommodation?

Free everything I'm sure.

Remember, these students are so poor they don't have R1 worth of data on their cellphones to sms vote against going back.

 

[BBSA]

Free everything I'm sure.

Remember, these students are so poor they don't have R1 worth of data on their cellphones to sms vote against going back.

That is what I thought, that is probably why National Treasury and most economists says free higher education with cost north of 40 billion.