Cosatu mulls education strike

Cosatu in the Western Cape is considering downing tools at universities to show solidarity with protesting students.

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Johannesburg - Cosatu in the Western Cape is considering downing tools at universities to show solidarity with protesting students and condemn “police violence” against the demonstrators.

It also called on the government on Wednesday to agree with demands that there were no tuition fee hikes next year and that a funding formula for the future be finalised.

The federation further warned it would consider strike action against the state to compel it to find a resolution to the funding crisis and general state of education in South Africa.

“We believe that the fundamental problems in education relate to the access to tertiary education and all the matters related to this, which includes the state of education at a primary and secondary level that restricts entry to tertiary education.

“The other area that should be dealt with as it represents a significant barrier to entry, is the funding of studies and the support to students who require same,” it said in a statement.

It said the national government had to set the policy and lead the process, and not defer it to the different universities without clear guidelines.

“Cosatu will be supporting the students in their struggle for equity and fairness in the educational arena and salute them for responding to this injustice across racial groups and across income groups. This struggle has been elevated to the principle of social justice in our society that affects many other sectors of the society requiring transformation,” the federation said.

It also called for an investigation into the police who have been accused of using unnecessary force against the students.

IOL