Protesting University of Johannesburg (UJ) students were negotiating with the management on Friday afternoon.
More than 300 students marched outside the Bunting Road Campus as they waited for the institution’s management to attend the scheduled meeting between the two parties.
”Ten of us will be at the negotiating table to try and get the management to lower the percent,” said George Molepo from the Student Representative Council, referring to UJ’s proposed tuition fee hikes.
The meeting began just before 3pm between the UJ council and the students’ delegation.
Some of the provincial African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) members in support of the protest action joined the march, early on Friday. ”We don’t want to hear the reasons for the increment, we are saying it should not happen,” said the ANCYL’s provincial secretary, Lebo Maile.
Students are against the 14% hike effective from next year.
Meanwhile, UJ council chairperson Professor Roy Marcus said he was disappointed at the students’ conduct.
”I’m extremely disappointed at the students. They are complaining about service delivery, but at the same time do not want us to increase the fees.
”The harsh reality is that we are not getting enough subsidies from the government.”
The meeting between the institution’s management and students is expected to determine whether the strike will carry on next week. — Sapa