The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday described President Jacob Zuma’s “new R7-billion currently unfunded promise” as a “belated acknowledgement…that there is something wrong with higher education funding”.

This was in reaction to a report on Wednesday from the task team set up to “investigate the serious funding grievances raised by students during the #FeesMustFall protests in October”‚ the party said.

The DA’s Belinda Bozzoli said “Zuma appears to have pledged that some R4.843-billion will be provided immediately‚ with a further R2.039-billion promised for the 2016-17 financial year‚ to relieve the multiple crises that have hit the higher education system”.

She asked if “a more sustainable long-term solution to the chronic underfunding of the higher education system be forthcoming‚ or are we set to continue to lurch from funding crisis‚ to funding crisis?”

“The deadline for this short-term funding promise from President Zuma is fast approaching‚ as 2016 is now just days away and students in need of funding will start registering on campuses in the first or second week of January‚” warned Bozzoli.

This‚ she said was of concern “against a background of overt statements by student bodies that their protests will continue‚ even escalate‚ in January”.

Bozzoli said the issue “will be an inaugural test for new Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan who needs to ensure that the billions promised by Zuma are sourced responsibly‚ and not at the cost of other critical education commitments”.

“Until new funding actually materialises from Zuma’s promise‚ universities will be left to carry the burden from their declining budgets‚ and protests will continue in the New Year.”