The South African Union of Students (SAUS) has reportedly called off the national shutdown of universities, following an agreement with higher education stakeholders.

According to Sowetan Live, the union called off the national shutdown protests after the Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande reallocated R7 billion to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

This was after SAUS engaged with the Public Protector, the South African Human Rights Commission and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on education and training to find an alternative solution to address funding issues at institutions of higher learning.

“The meeting reflected on the last two weeks; the interventions and developments which have been made across the sector against the backdrop of the 15 demands tabled to the minister,” News24 quoted SAUS as saying.

Universities recently went on a national shutdown, demanding all historical debt to be abandoned among other issues.

PICTURE: Cape Town etc gallery

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“No retreat! No surrender!” – University shutdown from today

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