Cape Town – The National Union of Mineworkers Youth Structure (NUM YS) on Thursday called on big business to fund higher education.
“Those who own the means of production should take responsibility to funding our higher education as they own the country’s economy and they [benefit most from our education],” NUM YS said in a statement.
NUM YS called for the involvement of major SA companies including Lonmin, Anglo Platinum, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Harmony Gold, Sasol, and Sibanye Gold.
Thursday marked the eighth day of student uprisings nationwide against a proposed 6% hike in university fees for 2016.
On Wednesday students stormed parliament as Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene prepared to deliver his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement.
The NUM YS has thrown its weight behind the country-wide student protests calling for free education under the slogan #FeesMustFall as led by South African Student Congress (Sasco).
NUM YS National Secretary, Sabelo Mgotywa, called upon students across the country to march to the Chamber of Mines and other major business institutions to demand “that big business fund our education”.
“We ... condemn the manner in which the police is handling the situation, as it has led to severe injuries of students and this might lead to loss of life if we are not handling this matter properly,” NUM YS said.