UCT discloses planned 8% fee increase

This, as a group of roughly 200 people, believed to students, attempted to disrupt academic activity at the university on Thursday morning.

Western Cape police used stun grenades to disperse protesters and arrested one protester who tried to damage the university's shuttle service.

Speaking to the media at the university's Bremner building, UCT vice-chancellor Max Price said it would be "devastating for the university" if fees are not increased.

Aside from an 8% fee increase, the university is also proposing a 10% residence fee increase.

"The university has engaged with the national government to see whether the increase can be covered by the state," Price said.

He condemned the actions of students who had earlier in the morning dumped faeces in one of the university's computer science buildings.

Price said the excrement has since been cleared.

"There's no reason for students to disrupt the university's academic activity," he said.

In reply to a question from News24, Price said the university has spent R24m on private security for the 2017 academic year.

Price said the cost of private security has been partially covered by the university's insurance company.

"We need to especially protect our laboratories where chemicals can be dangerous for staff and students if intruded."

At a meeting in October, the then-EFF led UCT student representative council (SRC) demanded that the university propose a 0% fee increase which should be announced at an emergency council sitting.

The SRC also called on the university to call on President Jacob Zuma to release the Fees Commission report, which the university subsequently did.

The term of the SRC has since ended.

A leaked copy of the Fees Commission report, obtained by City Press, revealed that the country cannot afford free higher education at this stage.

On Sunday, the Presidency said discussions are underway with the relevant ministers regarding the content of the report.

The discussions should be concluded by the end of the week and the report would be released thereafter, according to the Presidency.

At the briefing on Thursday, Price also said the university staff received R48m in bonuses for the 2015/16 academic year, and the university's executive team, which includes deans, the vice chancellor and his deputies, received R2.8m worth of bonuses.

Price said the institution's remuneration committee did not believe that staff should be penalised for the country's poor economic circumstances.

He said private security and police would remain on campus, and an interdict obtained against unlawful protests would remain enforced, to ensure that the university concludes its academic year.

UCT exams are set to start next week.

"We remain open to talking to students, as we have done until midnight last night," Price said.

"Some of the demands, such as releasing the Fees Commission report, is however out of our control." DM