The Congress of SA Students wants business to give back to the country through free higher education, a decision it would ensure "by will or by force".
The pupils' organisation is set to march to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on Friday to demand that businesses contribute towards free education. The move by Cosas comes after several universities across the country have had to shut their doors as students protest for free education.
University students are also expected to march to the JSE and the Chamber of Mines on October 14 to demand free education. The protests started last week following an announcement by Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande that universities could increase fees, but by not more than 8% next year.
This has angered students, who are demanding free higher education. Some protests by students have since turned violent. Cosas believes that big companies listed on the JSE are generating billions of rands they are not re-channelling to ordinary citizens.
"These businesses have just been taking from the resources of South Africa and now it is time for them to give back - by will or by force," said the organisation.
"The companies listed at the JSE are always employing ready and educated employees whom they do not know how they obtained their qualifications. As an organisation, we are saying it's time for them to cough up some funds towards free education."
Making the announcement to increase fees last week, Nzimande said universities were facing an "extremely difficult financial situation".
"We understand the legitimate student concerns about the affordability of university education. At the same time, we need to ensure that those who can afford to pay must pay," said Nzimande.
He also announced that students who qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the "missing middle" - those whose families cannot afford higher education but also do not qualify for NSFAS - will experience no fee increase next year.
Nzimande said government will pay for the fee adjustment.
However, students are having none of it and have vowed to intensify their protests until their demands for free education are met.
On Friday, students from Wits marched to Cosatu House "to demand that parents of the working class support us in our fight ...".
Cosatu and the SACP have pledged that they will be marching with the students to the JSE and the Chamber of Mines. Several universities such as Wits, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of Cape Town and Vaal University of Technology remain closed as students continue with the protests.
Students want business to pay
The Congress of SA Students wants business to give back to the country through free higher education, a decision it would ensure "by will or by force".
The pupils' organisation is set to march to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on Friday to demand that businesses contribute towards free education. The move by Cosas comes after several universities across the country have had to shut their doors as students protest for free education.
University students are also expected to march to the JSE and the Chamber of Mines on October 14 to demand free education. The protests started last week following an announcement by Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande that universities could increase fees, but by not more than 8% next year.
This has angered students, who are demanding free higher education. Some protests by students have since turned violent. Cosas believes that big companies listed on the JSE are generating billions of rands they are not re-channelling to ordinary citizens.
"These businesses have just been taking from the resources of South Africa and now it is time for them to give back - by will or by force," said the organisation.
"The companies listed at the JSE are always employing ready and educated employees whom they do not know how they obtained their qualifications. As an organisation, we are saying it's time for them to cough up some funds towards free education."
Making the announcement to increase fees last week, Nzimande said universities were facing an "extremely difficult financial situation".
"We understand the legitimate student concerns about the affordability of university education. At the same time, we need to ensure that those who can afford to pay must pay," said Nzimande.
He also announced that students who qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the "missing middle" - those whose families cannot afford higher education but also do not qualify for NSFAS - will experience no fee increase next year.
Nzimande said government will pay for the fee adjustment.
However, students are having none of it and have vowed to intensify their protests until their demands for free education are met.
On Friday, students from Wits marched to Cosatu House "to demand that parents of the working class support us in our fight ...".
Cosatu and the SACP have pledged that they will be marching with the students to the JSE and the Chamber of Mines. Several universities such as Wits, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of Cape Town and Vaal University of Technology remain closed as students continue with the protests.
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