Student protests called off as ministry allocates more funds

The South African Union of Students has called off the national shutdown protests as Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande reallocated ZAR7 billion (US$478 million) to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), writes Yoliswa Sobuwa for Sowetan Live.

The union made the announcement on 31 March after it held a number of stakeholder engagements to advance the demands of students which were tabled to Nzimande.

Student union spokesperson Thabo Shingange said registration has been extended by two weeks and discussions were underway for further extension to accommodate all unregistered students.
Full report on the Sowetan Live site

Meanwhile, Chulumanco Mahamba writes for The Star that Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has condemned the alleged damage to university property and theft by protesting students which cost the state over ZAR32 million (US$2 million).
Full report on the IOL site