Politics
Unhappy Students Might Cause A 2020 National Shutdown
Nhlanhla Mabaso
Student organisations might embark on a national shutdown in the beginning of 2020, in demand of a presidential pardon for fees must fall activists who are still serving sentences.
In 2015, students embarked on a fees must fall revolution, where they held massive protests in all parts of the country. Different universities, student organisations and leaders marched for free education promised to them by government, instead, government jailed some of the students and never kept its promise of a free education.
With some students such as Kanya Cekeshe still behind bars, denied bail and freedom by the state, students are willing to regroup themselves and rally behind the release of their own.
A reliable source told Blazonmagazine that student organisations namely South African Student Congress (SASCO), Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) and the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) are plotting a national shutdown to demand a release for Kanya and others.
I got in touch with the leader of SASCO, Avela Mjajubana the national president, who didn’t confirm nor deny the allegations around this ‘Possible shutdown’ instead he told Blazonmagazine that “SASCO will have a National Congress in December and will discuss the issue of a possible shutdown in detail and give a way forward for January”.
On the other hand the EFFSC national president Mandla Shikwambana, in his interview with The Citizen said it’s not a secret that they are planning a national shutdown for the entire country until Kanya Cekeshe is released.
Possibilities are, 2020 will start off with student protests all over the country however that can only happen successfully if the students organisations involved stick together and not use this initiative for their personal gains.
While other student activists continue to serve their jail and houses arrests, Kanya is under medical attention following a mental illness diagnosis, his only hope is that his comrades continue to fight for his freedom as they vowed.
Image Courtesy: Theconversation.com