Wither Higher Education in the Context of the Fees mustfall Campaign in South Africa

The paper attempts to look at the current higher education crisis in South Africa in terms of the recent #FeesMustFall Campaign, embarked upon by higher education university students over the last several months and still continues unabated, in a country that seems to have lost its way. Civil unrest, strikes and protests in almost all sectors of the economy now permeates the political landscape of South Africa. This is an indictment to the democratic order, post 1994. As such, the paper will concentrate on the problems and challenges that confront South African higher education. It argues that education is a public good and therefore, a direct responsibility of government, given the heroic struggles of the masses from apartheid oppression and Bantustan education. Naturally, the paper argues further that, heirs of the revolutionary struggle are entitled to their rage. Tertiary education cannot remain limited to the few privileged in South Africa and, only radical action brings solutions. In other words student movements like it did, to challenge apartheid education, must be used to achieve the Freedom Charter’s vision. The Freedom Charter of the South African liberation struggle says that “the doors of learning must be open to all.” (The Freedom Charter, 1956). On the other hand there is just no money to fund higher education because of the rampant corruption, faltering action plans and as such, it appears that the higher education dream has been deferred. The most recent #FeesMustFall campaign brings to reality that after 21 years of democracy South African politicians of the ruling party can no longer rely on their revolutionary credentials because, the time has come to deliver real change. The mass student revolt of recent times has been unprecedented in the history of democratic South Africa. Amongst a host of other issues, this narrative will show that the students have sent a powerful message to the ruling party that has taken South African people for granted. Protesting students therefore, require the nation’s unreserved support. The paper will therefore attempt to talk to a host of issues as concerns higher education in South Africa.