Ntombela's spokesperson, Sello Pietersen, tells OFM News that the premier is well aware of difficulties faced by many students. He says Ntombela is of the view that no students should be excluded from accessing education based on their historical background. Pietersen says in order to build the province, a clear set of skills is needed.

"The premier believes quite strongly that government should be at the forefront of ensuring that education is accessible to all the deserving students, particularly from poor backgrounds. She is quite confident that currently both the Minister of Finance and Higher Education should be able to find a lasting solution," he adds.

This comes as students at the Central University of Technology (CUT), University of the Free State (UFS), and Motheo TVET College this week joined the picket line in protest against the said issues plaguing various higher learning institutions across the country.

Pietersen says the issues of funding are essentially the competence of the National Treasury and the Department of Higher Education.

"Ntombela is quite committed and she is continuously interacting with the leadership of students in different areas," he further says.

Students Representative Council (SRC) president at UFS, Katleho Lechoo, has called on the management of the university to open and allow students onto campus and register. At the Central University of Technology, CUT, the SRC president, Moses Ntonyane, says management has rejected all attempts of engagement and further threatened students with a court interdict.

The South African Students Congress (Sasco) called for a national shutdown of all institutions of higher learning on Monday as part of the student’s ongoing protest over financial exclusion.

OFM News