ANC, DA agree on higher education funding

South Africa’s two biggest political parties have welcomed Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan’s announcement of an increase in funding for higher education.

Gordhan announced in his medium-term policy statement on Wednesday that an additional R9 billion will be added to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, rising its funding by over 18% a year.

The increase in funding is in response to the on-going student fees must fall protest.

The African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) have welcomed Gordhan’s announcement.

“We’re very happy about the fact that the top of mind in the budget has been the higher education issue and that the minister and the team have responded very well to what we believe was the biggest issue that we were facing in the last couple of months,” says Duarte.

DA’s leader Mmusi Maimane says tertiary education funding for poor students must be given priority. He also says universities should be allowed to continue to operate and condemned the destruction which has accompanied the students’ protests.