The Democratic Alliance has accused the ANC of effectively “giving the middle finger” to poor students – 26 times.

It said the ruling party had on Wednesday voted against 26 proposed amendments to the adjusted budget that would have made available R904 million to fund the shortfall resulting from the zero-percent student fees increase in the 2015/16 financial year.

“The ANC voted twenty-six times against making more money available for poor students‚” charged DA finance spokesman David Maynier.

He added that the ANC had‚ instead‚ voted for:

- R720 million for foreign missions;

- R69.7 million for VIP protection and security services;

- R1.25 million for ministerial vehicles for the Health Minister; and

- R540‚000 for the purchase of bulls for reproductive purposes.

“When it comes to a choice between more money for students or more money for ministers‚ the ANC chose more money for ministers‚” Maynier asserted.

The shortfall in student fees should have been funded by cutting wasteful expenditure rather than cutting expenditure on inter alia Historically Disadvantaged Institutionsm‚ he added.