National SRC Summit

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology successfully hosted a national students' representative council (SRC) summit which was attended by SRC's from 13 institutions of higher learning across the country to discuss issues of international students and the state of higher education in South Africa, amongst others. This came about when SRC's saw the need for a consolidated view on the slow rate of development of the country through education.

The summit recommended that students coming from countries within borders of Africa be called continental students and those from outside to be named as international students. The summit resolved that continental students be prioritised as they tend to have more needs and challenges than those coming from outside Africa. It was also felt that a flat rate in percentage terms should be applicable across institutions but the rates should vary from continental students to international students.

Taking note of the complexity of improving the state of higher education in the country, the summit saw no confidence in the current leadership of the ministry to undertake the task.

As a result the summit recommended that Dr. Bonginkosi (Blade) Nzimande is no longer fit enough to lead the ministry, and therefore must be recalled with immediate effect. The summit further noted the recent deployment of Mduduzi Manana to serve as Deputy Minister, and saw no logic in the appointment by President Zuma, in which it sought an explanation from the President on the merits of the decision.