Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane – who asked President Jacob Zuma inside Parliament to address protesting students outside the National Assembly – is urging calm and restraint by both police and students in the wake of the breaching of the parliamentary precinct by students today.
“The critical nature of the situation demands decisive leadership and an urgent response from President Jacob Zuma. Government cannot remain silent any longer‚” he said in a statement after the medium term budget framework was delivered inside the House by the Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Maimane also criticised Nene for offering no relief in students‚ who have been protesting for about a year about the high cost of tertiary education. In the past week‚ this has led to a national shutdown of campuses nationwide‚ and a social media campaign under the hashtag FeesMustFall.
“In an astounding failure of leadership on the part of the government‚ today‚ Minister Nene failed to address the funding crisis in his budget‚ offering no relief to students‚” Maimane said.
“The President now has no option but to make a commitment to the nation on how this issue will be addressed. We urge President Zuma to address the nation as a matter of urgency in order to restore calm.”
The Congress of the People (Cope) also demanded “to know where President Zuma was when students attempted to storm into parliament. Where was his lieutenant (Higher Education Minister) Blade Nzimande? Why were they so fearful and hard-hearted?”
The party’s Dennis Bloem said in a statement: “Students chanted‚ ‘We want Blade’. This was the defining moment for him. He flunked it”.
“Irrespective of what Minister Nene had to say‚ the images from outside parliament will shock the entire world and create deep nervousness in the markets. To see police using teargas‚ shields and batons to combat students has‚ in one instance‚ destroyed the great capital Nelson Mandela had won for South Africa. President Zuma is leading the country into an abyss.”
Bloem said the ANC government could no longer hide behind the police.
“The breaking of a gate signifies that the floodgates have opened…
“The South African spring is here. Like the Arab spring‚ the patience of young people has snapped.”
On Tuesday‚ Nzimande had attempted to mediate in the student funding row by convening a summit of roleplayers‚ reaching an agreement that fee increases should be capped at an inflation-linked 6% for 2016. This was rejected by protesters‚ who want zero fee increases and government subsidies to be rolled out to more students.
MPs shocked as police and students clash at Parliament
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane – who asked President Jacob Zuma inside Parliament to address protesting students outside the National Assembly – is urging calm and restraint by both police and students in the wake of the breaching of the parliamentary precinct by students today.
“The critical nature of the situation demands decisive leadership and an urgent response from President Jacob Zuma. Government cannot remain silent any longer‚” he said in a statement after the medium term budget framework was delivered inside the House by the Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Maimane also criticised Nene for offering no relief in students‚ who have been protesting for about a year about the high cost of tertiary education. In the past week‚ this has led to a national shutdown of campuses nationwide‚ and a social media campaign under the hashtag FeesMustFall.
“In an astounding failure of leadership on the part of the government‚ today‚ Minister Nene failed to address the funding crisis in his budget‚ offering no relief to students‚” Maimane said.
“The President now has no option but to make a commitment to the nation on how this issue will be addressed. We urge President Zuma to address the nation as a matter of urgency in order to restore calm.”
The Congress of the People (Cope) also demanded “to know where President Zuma was when students attempted to storm into parliament. Where was his lieutenant (Higher Education Minister) Blade Nzimande? Why were they so fearful and hard-hearted?”
The party’s Dennis Bloem said in a statement: “Students chanted‚ ‘We want Blade’. This was the defining moment for him. He flunked it”.
“Irrespective of what Minister Nene had to say‚ the images from outside parliament will shock the entire world and create deep nervousness in the markets. To see police using teargas‚ shields and batons to combat students has‚ in one instance‚ destroyed the great capital Nelson Mandela had won for South Africa. President Zuma is leading the country into an abyss.”
Bloem said the ANC government could no longer hide behind the police.
“The breaking of a gate signifies that the floodgates have opened…
“The South African spring is here. Like the Arab spring‚ the patience of young people has snapped.”
On Tuesday‚ Nzimande had attempted to mediate in the student funding row by convening a summit of roleplayers‚ reaching an agreement that fee increases should be capped at an inflation-linked 6% for 2016. This was rejected by protesters‚ who want zero fee increases and government subsidies to be rolled out to more students.
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