Durban - Dozens of University of KwaZulu-Natal academic staff gathered in support of protesting students outside the Pietermaritzburg campus on Friday.
They held up signs and banners during their picket in support of free tertiary education.
According to a manifesto published on social media, they wanted the state to act decisively and fund higher education.
“[We] call on government to decisively increase funding on higher education. We will not get out of the present impasse around fees without its support. The crisis has arisen because of declining real spending on universities. The proportion of South Africa’s GDP going to the sector is considerably less than in many poorer countries.
“Secondly, we are calling for an end to all violence on and around our campuses. This includes the violence of state and private security and of a fringe group of protesters outside or within the university.
“As academics with the support of many faith communities and civil society organisations in our city of Pietermaritzburg, we are stating once again that we cannot fulfil our core roles,” it said.
The campus and its residences have been a flashpoint of unrest between students and police.
On Wednesday, police and security personnel confiscated petrol bombs from a residence on campus.
News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ukzn-academics-throw-weight-behind-feesmustfall-20161007
They held up signs and banners during their picket in support of free tertiary education.
According to a manifesto published on social media, they wanted the state to act decisively and fund higher education.
“[We] call on government to decisively increase funding on higher education. We will not get out of the present impasse around fees without its support. The crisis has arisen because of declining real spending on universities. The proportion of South Africa’s GDP going to the sector is considerably less than in many poorer countries.
“Secondly, we are calling for an end to all violence on and around our campuses. This includes the violence of state and private security and of a fringe group of protesters outside or within the university.
“As academics with the support of many faith communities and civil society organisations in our city of Pietermaritzburg, we are stating once again that we cannot fulfil our core roles,” it said.
The campus and its residences have been a flashpoint of unrest between students and police.
On Wednesday, police and security personnel confiscated petrol bombs from a residence on campus.
News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ukzn-academics-throw-weight-behind-feesmustfall-20161007
This entire thing is going from bad to worse