An influence of the #FEESMUSTFALL movement on student politics: a case study of the Durban University of Technology 2016-17 Steve Biko campus.
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The years 2015/16 were a significant period in the history of student activism in higher education
in South Africa. The period resulted in thousands of university students across the country
demonstrating for free decolonized education. As a result, thousands of students were subjected to
police brutality, confrontation, and arrests through the use of force, rubber bullets and tear gas
amongst other things. This has in many institutions of learning amounted to damage to property
and affected teaching and learning. The genuine concerns and demands of students for free higher
education and conducive learning spaces for the black majority in South Africa, saw the former
President Jacob Zuma announcing 0% fee increment and commitment for feasibility of free higher
education in South Africa. In this regard, this research sought to examine the influence of the
#FeesMustFall [#FMF] movement on student politics and to understand how the university
management at the Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, responded to the
#FeesMustFall demands of students. The study used a qualitative approach in exploring the
influ1dxence of the #FMF movement in student politics. A theoretical lens of social justice was
used to engage with this research, and it advocates for the distribution of power, resources, and
benefits in society without favour of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, and any other status.
Study findings show that there was a positive influence on student politics from the #FMF
movements. One key positive outcome was that all student political parties namely: the South
African Student Congress [SASCO], the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command
[EFFSC], the Democratic Alliance Student Organization [DA] and the Black Land First Student
Organization [BLF] amongst others found their voices uniting under the national call for free and
decolonized h i g h e r education. This unity amongst student leaders, varied political formations
and various social groupings revived and encouraged youth to engage more in student politics. It
was also found that the relationship between student leaders and University management at DUT
became overwrought due to a violent approach and tactic used by the #FeesMustFall student
movement. In some instances, this has resulted in fatalities and casualties physically, emotionally,
economically, politically, and psychologically in the lives of students, University infrastructure
and student politics in general. This thesis recommends therefore a need for national reflection on
higher education in South Africa and student activism based on a case and lessons of #FMF
movement. This national reflection needs to investigate, confront, and raise important questions
with regards to equity, access, decoloniality and transformation in higher education as a critical
discourse and call to action after twenty-five years of democracy in South Africa.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.