President Jacob Zuma established the commission in January last year. Hearings began in August last year and ended at the end of June this year.

It was the result of a wave of massive protests over universities fees, which saw campaigns like #FeesMustFall spread fast across the country and wreak havoc across campuses in October 2015.

Headed by Judge Jonathan Heher, the commission was set to look into the feasibility of fee free higher education.

After listening to different stakeholders, it presented the final report to the president.

Among those who said they could not care less about the report was the South African Union of Students.

“We have always made it clear that we have no interest in what the commission has to say.

“We will continue to fight for the poor. During our presentation to the fees commission we made it clear that we want the poor to get free education and not a loan,” said union secretary general Sthembiso Ndlovu.

“The president can release the report tomorrow if he wants to and whatever is written on the report better have the implementations of what we have presented.”

6 reasons why the ‘fees commission report’ is so important to SA students:

1. The fees commission report is based on the feasibility of free higher education.

2. Zuma received the report in August 2017 and three months have passed yet he has not released it.

3. The report determines whether the government will be able to implement free education in the country.

4. Universities have started engagements with relevant stakeholders in relation to fee increments for 2018, according to *Nehawu General Secretary- Zola Saphetha. This further necessitates that the president releases the report with immediate effect.

5. The release of the commission could determine the prevention of another wave of #FeesMustFall protests.

6. Students are becoming agitated as they await the president’s announcement on his actions. Students require that the decision be implemented on time before the close of university admissions for 2018.

*Nehawu- The National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union

Categories: Education