MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Read Comments placed on the MyPE #NMMUpoll

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MyPE asked one questions with two answer choices in today’s online poll:

Below are some of the comments – please note that no identifying information is collected so you can feel free to pour your heart out BUT any personal attacks, hate speech and the like will not be published.

  1. Please let this pole be of some help.
  2. I want to graduate, I start my dream job at the end of November.
  3. We cannot go back to classes without achieving what we want as students us giving up now would mean that we allow our government to increase fees every year it’s time they deliver what they promised us 22 years ago.. FREE EDUCATION NOW!!!!!!!
  4. The 2016 tuition did not increase so we should be allowed to finish our studies in the year of 2016
  5. NMMU seem more interested in supporting the FMF students than the majority that want to resume studying. So much for democracy. Go figure.
  6. I wish to continue with classes and graduate this year, however this struggle is bigger than our inconvenience. Continuing like nothing has happened will downplay and ilegitimise the fight we are fighting – the great social injustices we are faced with. Thus as a student who has siblings, family members who are still to enter university, it is my responsibility to ensure they are not denied access because of financial standing, and not accompanied by a dark cloud of student debt everywhere they go. #FMF
  7. Education is the key to a bright future and a growing economy. Let’s fight for our rights!
  8. All the working part time students have been forgotten, they are also suffering as a result of this shutdown.
  9. I do support the FMF movement but shutting down the university won’t help us, in light with fact that we may have to finish this remaining semester next year.
  10. I believe that this movement will surely result in something good
  11. The shutdown is not in the interest of the students academic progress. There is too much to lose, and the opportunity cost is way too high. I’m of the opinion that there is a political undercurrent, that is not known to the general public. I do sincerely believe in, and support the falling of fees, for deserving poor students, but the protesting students must realize that there must be a sustainable cost model to support the initiative. The absorbent spending pattern of the ruling ANC Government, SAA’s massive losses, corruption (which we will never get rid of completely), must surely be addressed, since this will provide a good starting point for available funding. Government must increase their investment in education, but must start at Primary and Secondary level, thereafter Tertiary. There’s just one more question I have, namely: What happened to “first educate then liberate” of the struggle era???
  12. Shuts down until fees fall.
  13. By all means keep up the dialogue and pressure to keep fees within reach of poorer students, but should we not concentrate more on free basic (up to and including Matric) education, upon which a stronger workforce can be built? In turn attract investment and jobs, also turn out (for those who wish to) a more competent 3rd level student.
  14. Doing my honours and I’ve already got a job overseas. So I need to finish this year. No other choice.
  15. I cannot believe that anyone with even an average IQ can for one minute think they can study for free!!! … all the while they are hoping to get an education so they can get a job one day … and get paid for it!!! But the lecturers must not get paid!!! Really now? I have a question for those who protest against paying fees: “If you demand free education, are you willing to get a job one day that is free too, i.e. pays NOTHING!!!???”
  16. #StrikeMustFall
  17. The fees must fall movement should not stop students from achieving their goals in the time frame they planned to.
  18. I need to write my honours exam then have to write a board exam in January. I am also already contracted to begin working at an audit firm at the end of January 2017. The postponement of the university year will seriously harm my future…
  19. The year should continue as always, police should be brought in to the campuses to keep an eye on the campus for the first week and anyone who is caught disturbing the peace should be shot with a rubber bullet
  20. I am not against FMF, I believe that fees MUST fall, there are students deserving of education all over South Africa. However, taking into consideration how the government runs, I don’t believe that free education is feasible – well not right now anyway – which would clearly mean university would remain shut down for a long time. This is not fair to those parents who did in fact struggle to make ends meet. Oh, and please don’t let my comment and opinion become an issue of race, this entire issue of the hike in university fees should be blamed on the government. If the government didn’t waste money ( i.e. The president and his stupid Nkandla) then yes, sure free education would be feasible, unfortunately our country isn’t at that stage. I would also like to point out that just because I believe that free education is not feasible, it does not mean that decolonized education is not possible – it is, in all ways it is. But yes, that’s just my opinion.
  21. The protest should affect government. not students. free education is unrealistic.
  22. University is a privilege, not a right.
  23. I WANT MY DEGREE!
  24. Continuation of the shutdown with postponement of the academic year into December 2016, or even into 2017, would result in international students needing to return to their home countries owing to expiry of their study permits (in their final year of study). Furthermore, as a final year pharmacy students, many of us have signed contracts with hospitals, pharmacies and industries to begin our internship year on January 1st. We are required by law to submit our academic record to the South African Pharmacy Council prior to this date in order to start our internships on time. Thus is it crucial for academic activities to resume at once.
  25. fees must fall.
  26. Thanks
  27. This has jeopardised my final year ( BTech full time) along with my research which was being conducted at NMMU. If the academic calendar has to extent into 2017 it will still affect me negatively as I need to perform my internship therefore I will be missing out on classes next year.
  28. Cant afford this bullshit shutdown
  29. Get back to work! Stop compromising other people’s lives and opportunities. We all pay for our studies and you useless hooligans are messing up our chances for a better life. Go toyi-Toyota outside Bisho government offices for change if you want, but leave our campus free of violence and hostage activity.
  30. It’s a different mind set when it comes to the students that are in their last year of study’s.
  31. Stand firm in honesty. We cannot allow the quality of tertiary education to fall. There is lawlessness everywhere in South Africa, let us claim back our land for ALL people of integrity and a yearn to be governed by our Lord Jesus Christ. Standing with you; my daughter is supposed to graduate this year.
  32. I am in my final master’s year. I have a lot of obligations to meet at the start of 2017. My bursary has very strict rules and guidelines that I will need to adhere to. If I do not, It could cost me an excess amount of k120. Money I do not have. I would also have to apply for new visas which is a long process that would otherwise be unnecessary. This has made studying in South Africa very unpleasant.
  33. Min academic program I should already screwed, going back to varsity now would result in my failing, or never being able to catch up the lost time
  34. I believe students must be granted 2 opportunities to write exams… If they are not sufficiently prepared for opp1 they can have the opportunity to write the 2nd test.
  35. Stop wasting our students’ time and money. Get back to work.
  36. I support the ideology behind the movement and the provision of equal opportunities to all, especially in the education sector. However FREE tertiary education in SA is unfortunately not viable. It is just not possible. Students have worked too hard to get to this point in the year and these protesters are holding the University and other students’ education hostage.
  37. Management must employ more drastic measures to salvage the academic programme for the majority who wish to learn. The contrary will have catastrophic repercussions for staff, students, families and the sector.
  38. Tertiary education in South Africa is a priveledge and should be treated as such. I speak as one who was not given the priveledge of studying at a university, as my parents could not afford it, yet I understand that demanding an institution to operate with no source of income and to provide a free service to the public is by no means viable. Students who want to study, especially those who have made sacrifices in order to study should not suffer at the hand of those who resort to violence for not having their way. Fighting for the ‘right’ to free education is a lost cause
  39. The examinations are around the corner and we are left behind because of this shutdown
  40. Why must we suffer for other student who are rebelling?
  41. No Fees or Else!
  42. I have no problem with students protesting but it is not acceptable to infringe on the constitutional right of others to conduct their work or study. I think there would be a lot more support for the feesmustfall campaign if they conducted themselves peacefully and refrained from intimidating other students and staff. They should also refrain from negotiating with an “or else” mentality. It is not fair on staff or management that they have this constant threat of violence hanging over them.
  43. If the law needs to be upheld. The police are there to ensure the law is upheld. If protestors break the law, the law must be upheld within the law. If that requires force then so be it.
  44. Millions in damages which could have been spent on education.
  45. #PayBackMyParentsMoney
  46. Tertiary education is a privilege not a right….. Primary and secondary education is a right.
  47. How else will students get their degrees and establish their futures?
  48. Why are we being held hostage by illiterate thugs that will never have the opportunity to study as clearly if they were intelligent enough they would realize what they were doing. Or they would have bursaries. Rumours are that Rhodes might not recover from the shutdown. Well done our future leaders.
  49. The strike is a necessary evil. Every one, black, white, indian or coloured will be afforded the chance to further their education and better their lives
  50. we have to get free quality education first before we can resume with lectures
  51. Some of us need to graduate in record time.
  52. Asap
  53. A lowered percentage increase is not a answer or solution for the future. It’s a solution for the present. Will we have to strike next year again? And again? And again?
  54. Fees have to fall first before we can go back to classes
  55. We demand Free Education
  56. This would disrupt the education system greatly
    I have signed a contract to begin articles at an accounting firm for 2018, subject to the completion of my Honours degree. I am in final year undergrad. If I am delayed by a year this will affect my training contract. If a continued shutdown takes place, I will have to terminate my current training contract and approach a smaller firm in order to work full time and study part time. This is due to me not having money to complete my studies. Well, my father did put away money for my studies. He is currently a pensioner. He has misappropriated my study fund on his many girlfriends and for his own luxuries. My mother died long ago. She was an angel. My dad’s a psycopath.
  57. Fuck the protestors.
  58. Like start Monday!!! 3 Oct 2016
  59. Until unemployment is down to 15%, free education is an imperative, but closing institutions down is not the way to negotiate. The entry level standard to universities should be raised, colleges and adult schools funded – and no second chances for learners who fail the course they choose.
  60. How else will students get their degrees and establish their futures?
  61. No comment i just want to go back to class …
  62. It doesn’t make sense to expect the government to implement a no fees over tertiary education overnight. It’s unreasonable and irrational for university students to expect this need for zero fees now. People are comparing SA which is a 3rd world country to 1st world countries. We can’t afford to be repeating a whole semester over a few individuals who are being totally unreasonable. University is expensive you know
  63. I’m fully part of #FeesMustFall but we really need to write exams as much as we need free education for the poor.
  64. We should return to classes whle engaging with the management and government, academic calendar is against us.
  65. As much as its for a good cause the discussions should continue while we finishing our academic activities,we are behind and its not good.
  66. Security if needed to stop protesters or protesters cam still protest, but let classes resume. This is getting ridiculous
  67. I’m all for peaceful protests… But violating other students’ rights to education, regardless of whether or not what you’re fighting for is honourable, is NOT something that anyone has a constitution right to, and does NOT fall within the definition of a “peaceful” protest. Grow a spine and deal with it, NMMU!
  68. Please
  69. First world countries don’t pay fees why shouldn’t we? If anything these people should go protest against the anc that promised them free education not stop school activities!
  70. We have worked far too hard for our courses to be extended an extra year all due to a bunch of idiots who have a one-track mind with blinkers on.
  71. If continuation means the uncertainty of the future of others towards their education then that would be selfish of us to think of only ourselves.
  72. We must continue academic activity with immediate effect. The minority can not invade the rights of the majority. Action must be taken against these students and must be removed by force.
  73. Jail the hooligans who are being destructive and let the ones who want to study, study.
  74. The #FeesMustFall movement has unrealistic and unattainable goals. I think it is disgusting how universities are negotiating with terrorists. The fact that, when faced with threats and violence, universities are being brought down to their knees by a group of students is also pretty unacceptable. The fact that the academic year might be cancelled is ridiculous. I’ve never felt so ashamed to be part of a higher education institution that allows students to run rampant. I’m disgusted that nothing is being done to punish these students, especially that one student who sent death threats via a voice note. Nothing has happened to that person, or at least nothing that the public knows of – it’s ridiculous. Watching videos of how students were holding people hostage at the back gate of NMMU, the gate that I have used to previously escape from protests, is so saddening. These students don’t even care about the repercussions of their actions. I’m an honours student at NMMU. I love NMMU, and I’m grateful for all the opportunities that it has afforded me, but I’m so disheartened that NMMU is bowing down to student demands. Demands that cannot be met, not in this country. I hope this is read and shared because it’s time that the majority of students stand up and do something.
  75. We can protest while studying. No education until free education methods is costing us
  76. I fully support financial assistance for the poor and ‘missing middle’ but academic excellence and continued education cannot be compromised! Our graduates need to enter the economy, pay taxes and be able to support the future generations! DREAMS DEFERRED ARE DREAMS DENIED!
  77. Resume academic activities please, for goodness sake!
  78. I want to to go back to classes and complete my 2016 academic activities so that i can graduate and get a job
  79. It is very important to continue with university now in order to make something like free quality education in SA possible in future.
  80. We all are complaining of unaffordable fees but we don’t seem to consider that if university activities are not resumed that is money and time gone to waste. Please please let’s reconsider time wasted can never be recouped
  81. I want to go back to school Monday the red of October
  82. The situation can be handle in a different way that does not affect our education.
  83. White people must go back to Europe
  84. Rather go strike outside Zuma’s house.
  85. We as students need to unite in getting fees reduced but a continued shutdown will only hurt our families financially at this point in time
  86. I’m paying for no education at the moment! Fix this please!
  87. Burn and strike at the Anc offices, let us continue with our education
  88. We are behind on school work and I strongly believe we should resume classes.. this strike is a distraction to us
  89. Academic activities must be resumed because we are way behind now and we can’t afford that anymore.The only way forward now is classes to resumed on MondayI
  90. I wish to continue with classes and graduate this year, however this struggle is bigger than our inconvenience. Continuing like nothing has happened will downplay and ilegitimise the fight we are fighting – the great social injustices we are faced with. Thus as a student who has siblings, family members who are still to enter university, it is my responsibility to ensure they are not denied access because of financial standing, and not accompanied by a dark cloud of student debt everywhere they go. #FMF
  91. I wish to continue with classes and graduate this year, however this struggle is bigger than our inconvenience. Continuing like nothing has happened will downplay and ilegitimise the fight we are fighting – the great social injustices we are faced with. Thus as a student who has siblings, family members who are still to enter university, it is my responsibility to ensure they are not denied access because of financial standing, and not accompanied by a dark cloud of student debt everywhere they go. #FMF
  92. #Asijiki
  93. This situation isn’t getting us anywhere we slowly killing the education system one way or the other
  94. We need to finish university!
  95. Unacceptable to prevent the paying students and majority that want to complete their studies from doing so. Disruptive students should be disciplined.
  96. We too have a right to education which my parents work hard to pay for. If does not resume, afraid students and qualified lecturers will look elsewhere.
  97. We want the government to respond to our demand and gove us a deadline. What is the use of studying and never getting your degree. We don’t have money to pay off those debt.
  98. We acknowledge the importance of education and the constitutional right afforded to us as South African’s to receive the education. However, the Constitution does not afford us as individuals free education as the provision of education is dealt with on governmental and institutional level. Each and every person out there studying towards becoming a professional or growing their intellect is taken a step forward in growing our beautiful nation. Education can change minds, can uplift souls and give South Africa the chance of becoming the nation it should be. We are, however, stuck with an issue of irrational perspectives perusing the ideal of free education simply given without putting in any effort.
  99. Everyone deserves an opportunity to study further and become better, but with receiving any opportunity, it is only as valuable as the appreciation for it. Therefore, we are of the opinion that free education pursued in light of an perceived entitlement will not produce quality students, quality professionals or quality people. We are one nation, fighting for democracy and I am certain that the majority of us want to finish our degrees and change the world on step at a time.
  100. As for me those that can afford must pay
  101. How are going to come back next year and continue with our studies if some are unable to pay their current fees?
  102. Change the world at the next government election – if the government does not suit you then replace it with one that will listen. Stop demanding instant graticfication like a bunch of babies with a hungry tummy or crappy nappy. Learn patience and the ability to work towards a long lasting goal for the benefit of the entire nation.
  103. It is unacceptable that students must be kidnapped and education must be the ransom. The NMU senior management is protecting the kidnappers instead of the hardworking, paying student. So sad that students and lecturers that wants to learn and teach can not do exactly that.
  104. Tertiary education is a privilege that most work hard to experience it, it is not a right to be given freely to those who are not deserving. I have sacrificed much and worked myself to the bone to get to my forth year. Now instead of reaping the fruits of my hard work by graduating in December and becoming a qualified educator and teaching our leaders, freedom fighters and citizens of tomorrow, I must now wait to have my fate decided by those who want the world given to them on a silver platter.
  105. The ones complaining there isn’t enough time to finish the academic year are the lazy buggers that feel like doing nothing. Hard work isn’t in some people’s vocabulary
  106. Let us study
  107. Let’s resume academic activities as soon as possible please. We need to graduate.
  108. There should be a complete shutdown for the year This will give management a chance to seek a proper solution All students are basically in holiday mode and will be difficult to get motivation to study again It’s unfair to assume that students will catch up classes on a Saturday Moving exams two weeks later effects people that have made travel arrangements which can’t be refunded or changed
  109. Ridiculous how people can prevent us form our right to education. Its a government issues now we as students are suffering. Wow
  110. Fee education is not sustainable and will ruin SA and all future education in the country. Pay for what is valued!!
  111. This is a waste of our time an very scarce resources. The leadership of FMF has proven to be immature and ignorant, it’s high time that students walk into campus already and if someone tries to stop them then that person deserves to rot in jail
  112. Rapidly losing faith in NMMU and our tertiary education system in general. The ball is and always has been in your court. Take charge and do something about this ridiculous situation. YOU are the adults here!
  113. Want to go back to class!!!
  114. Protest should be done off campus grounds. Students need to be able to focus on studies. They are losing a year of their lives.
  115. We need to get back to finish this year so that we can pay it foward if the goverment dont.
  116. Please let people who want to complete go back in peace lock up those who are stealing time and money from other students
  117. By resuming studies all the hard work students across the country have done to help us get what we were promised would have been for nothing if we resumed classes. We shouldn’t be getting threatened by our University that they will end this year if we don’t return to classes. Please continue University
  118. I want to complete my year without repeating it next year.When will we have the final answer as to whether classes will resume or not. We don’t have money to spend time loafing around doing nothing. We need to eat.
  119. I want to start my practical early next year so that I can acquire more experience in the actual field and for the fact that we need education to change the world. Our future as the vulnerable student’s lies in the FMF campaign. If the classes resume immediately are our concerns gonna be ever taken serious? Never Students of the privileged are soo selfish about the concerns that does not affect their wellbeing. We all wanna study and graduate, but merely impossible if we gonna be expected to pay fees with the money we don’t have.
  120. I advocate fees must fall campaign, but we cannot arrogantly deny the majority of students who want to resume with academic activities. The campaign no longer represent the interest of students but of political agendas. It is crystal clear now, how can the campaign move forward whilst the majority of students whom we claim to represent are not in the match, far behind and longing to return to class.
  121. You are supposed to be learned students. You are alienating people instead of gaining support for your cause. Find another way to get your point across that doesn’t involve destruction and intimidation
  122. The sad reality about the fees must fall protest is that the majority of the people who say they fighting for the poor are actually the reason the poor are not in varsity. People who applied with fraudulent documents “I stay with my grandmother who is supporting 15 of us, we living in an 2 room house”. That same person has two parents who are both teachers for example. The situation he described above is a really to someone else. They can’t go to school cause they really don’t have money. We often referred to the government about them being unethical and corrupt. But people often forget that people who live in glass houses should not through stones. Having two parents both working decent jobs doesn’t make you poor. There are poor people, people who live below the poverty line in South Africa Millions. People who can’t afford to have food on the table, people who don’t benefit from government services cause they in the most remote places in the country. Research has shown that more than 90% of people who go to university are actually from the 2 top quintiles. I’ve realized that too, black people are the poorest in the country but majority of those in varsity are not, you sit with people of color and they talk about their high school years when they played cricket, hokey, swimming…. (this is only just a dream for the majority of poor people).I’m poor compared to the majority of black people I study with. So I don’t think it will be fair if government funds are used to fund the so called ” poor black people in university”.
  123. If you say free education you mean tax payers should fund for higher education, people often say the government need to pay for this forgetting that the government gets revenue from tax. So the real poor people in the country who pay tax too, in the form of VAT will be paying for varsity instead of basic services they desperately need. If you know in your heart that there are people who deserved government funding there education more than yourself please don’t say you fighting for the poor to get an education, if you really wanted the poor to get an education you could’ve applied using your real information, so that someone who is in a worse off position than yours gets funding. People are now leading protests just to push their own political agendas. Just for their names to be published in the history books for being the once who lead the massive fees must fall protests. They don’t care about facts, they don’t care about the costs the protect have created. People may call me selfish for admitting that those in university including black people are not poor of course there are people from poor backgrounds but I can admit or verify that majority are from the two top quintile. And if people say fees shouldn’t be the reason people go to varsity, those who are have good marks need to be awarded the opportunity to study. The rich will still get better chances, people private school often perform better than those in government schools. You find it they are 60 in matrix with 180 distinctions, the government schools always have a star child while majority just pass to be out of the system. Someone it’s 500 matrix students with only 40 distinction you find it majority are obtained by the top 3 students. So if the way into varsity was marks the poor would still lack behind and tax money would be used to fund education of students who don’t need financial aid I’m not in favour of a shutdown but I feel it would be better to keep it closed than to open it for a day just to be closed again.
  124. This is messing everything up for everyone
  125. I want to graduate!  I’m a final year student and have paid all my fees for the year. I am supposed to finish this year and receive my degree. I have never failed a class and work hard to keep up my marks. All I want is to graduate and get my degree. My right to an education has been violated here.  Regardless of viewpoint, either for or against the FMF movement, universities NEED to open up. This could lead to the country going bankrupt. The government is the issue, not the universities.
  126. The idiocy must stop  We have the right to receive the education we pay for.With respect to the necessary and admirable goals of the movement, a continued shutdown will undo any progress made and impact severely those most vulnerable. Those the movement purpourts to represent.  If we resume with the studies without the current Issues being resolve many of my fellow students will not be able to register next year because they have no money to and will still need to pay the current year’s tuition. I have a bursary but I will not be selfish because I also come from a poor background and I know the struggle first hand.
  127. Students paying for housing’s contracts are ending We are losing a year of our lives The majority wants to study Ask any protesting student for their marks and see what kind of person is tak away our education  I have paid my fees, therefore deserve to get my education. I want to finish my year even through December
  128. This shutdown has gone too far The consequences of not resuming the academic activities is unaffordable  It is pathetic that an small group of people demand free education. And disrupt the education of those who are paying for their education. I am planning to study next year and my parents don’t have the funds to pay for me, I have saved up enough money to pay for 2 years by working this current year! so why do some of us have to work hard and suffer while others just jump around, vandalise the university’s property and demand education for free? Everything is not for free! and if you want to be professional one day act professional!! Please stop this with law and force as soon as possible!! Before there is no more university’s left in this country.
  129. open our university I don’t see where this sudden uprise is coming from. These protesters are being disruptive. I would like to finish this academic year as it is so to say already finished, just 2 weeks left. Please, open the doors to my institution of learning! Please!University is a business like any other. If people do not work, they get fired. If they can’t pay fees , they should not enrol. UNISA is cheaper. Colleges are cheaper. A handful of students bringing the entire country’s system to its knees!! Shocking! They should be thrown in jail & held financially responsible for the millons of rand lost. Don’t bow to their demands! Let it be business as usual. By the way. Where should the money come from if there are no fees??
  130. we can negotiate while studying
  131. They are violating our right to education!!!
  132. The push for free education can continue by legal means. I do not stand for this fees must fall and shit. I am a 4th year student who has 3 weeks left at University and don’t have time for this nonsense. Why does these students want to have protests when it’s exams time? I want to continue going to university and complete my degree. I am fed up with this nonsense!As much as the movement has an important message, I have stakeholders supporting my masters program and loans that I have to honour. Additionally, there is an internship post that I have to begin as at 3 January. Incompletion of the academic program this year threatens my ability to fulfill that post and severely jeopardises my ability to honour my scholarship and loans. Lastly, that internship post will remain unfilled and the community therefore lacking the necessary services provided. The ripple effects are too dire for the academic program not to carry on!
  133. If we do not resume, the consequences of falling so far being will be insurmountable.  The ones complaining there isn’t enough time to finish the academic year are the lazy buggers that feel like doing nothing. Hard work isn’t in some people’s vocabulary
  134. Let us study
  135. They can continue the campaign while studies continue. This is going to turn into a “cut off your nose to spite your face’. It’s s no-win for all parties. Work and debate this at the same time.
  136. PLEEEEEEASE
  137. By resuming studies all the hard work students across the country have done to help us get what we were promised would have been for nothing if we resumed classes. We shouldn’t be getting threatened by our University that they will end this year if we don’t return to classes.
  138. Please continue University
  139. Some students are in their final year and want to finish and graduate. Many CANNOT afford to repeat this year. How can a handful of thugs hold thousands to ransom?!
  140. I think it is unethical for NMMU management to refuse to call the police. I have the right to go to class. The “protestors” have no right to prevent anyone from going to class. They BREAK THE LAW. Let the law deal with them. If your neighbour abuse his children will you also refuse to call the police because it might get “complicated”? It is irresponsible to not take a stand for what is right.
  141. No student can afford to waste a year. Or put all students with 50% average through
  142. We need to return to campus to finish the year. Its my constitutional right to attend university.
  143. What are we waiting for? What is going to change in a month or 4 months? We need to continue immediately and complete the academic year. The fees crisis can still be negotiated with GOVERNMENT…it is government that promised this and gavernment who allocates funds from tax income…. Should the academic calendar not continue immediately, paying students will sue NMMU for not providing tuition as per contract and paid for, for the costs of getting to varsity thuis far in the year, which are now wasted. For loss of potential income….and the lisy goes on. The varsity already has considerable debt. Once they have to pay out for these valid claims, the institution will be declared bankrupt, it will shut down and all the staff will have no jobs and income, the city will lose thousands of tenants and residents and their will be no varsity in PE…. What is it going to be?
  144. If we also inherited stolen generational wealth like some people then we wouldn’t be complaining about money. In our own country. Its the very same reason my white classmates have cars and black ones don’t have.
  145. Let’s do this for 2017 first years.
  146. Fees Must Fall, everyone wants to go back to class but some of us are financially excluded which means we cannot go back to classes.
  147. Although I had sympathy with the free higher education movement, it has now gone on long enough. Universities have to open so that this academic year can finish and studenta that already paid and workd hard could continue and finalise their studies. Very sad that law and order are not enforced and that the minority group are allowed to take control. Very sad indeed.
  148. As an international student, I feel I have wasted so much time and money in the past three weeks with the shutdown. Although I realize the struggles of South African students and although they claim this a peaceful strike, by no means do they show it. They are still entitled to their rights but every other student not in the fight is also entitled to the education they already paid for – myself included. Open school or NMMU will lose students significantly.
  149. Schooling be continued
  150. Academic activities must resume immediately !! protest to government for fees must fall not varsity!
  151. I don’t think free education is something that will happen now
  152. This targeting of the university is ridiculous. It only harms fellow students. If you want to make a point then go and protest the education/finance ministers
  153. Please.let us resume academic activities as soon possible..time is ticking.
    the strike is for a good cause but striking won’t really give a clear message to what people in government or the ones who could help making things easy think about.There should be an easier way to let the people get the massage.
  154. With lots of security and zero tolerance for rioters (euphemistically known as protesters)
  155. So what is next? #SalariesMustRise #WorkMustFall ?
  156. Education is nor a right, it is a privilege and comes with obligations from all parties.
  157. Absolutely ridiculous that the protesters can deny so many students the right to continue with their education. What gives them the right ??? They get away with it so continue to do whatever they please
  158. More jobs = More tax.  Instability in the country (by supposedly intelligent students burning, looting and acting like babies) keeps tourists and investment out. Less tourists and investment = Less jobs. Less Jobs = Less Tax. Less Tax = Less money to provide free education.
  159. If the students have a gripe about not receiving “free education”, then they must please explain to us all who promised it. It was not the government, nor the universities, not even Postman Pat and his black and white cat. If they say that the ANC promised it, then they are mistaken. The Freedom Charter says that ‘the doors of learning and culture shall be opened’. It says specifically ‘that higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships on the basis of merit’. Merit, as in being academically deserving of continuing with their studies. This does not include being pushed through from one year to the next, because they’ve already failed Grade 1. The majority of so-called students should not even be at university. This is a democratic society, but the students who are protesting are infringing on the rights of others. They are preventing others from learning as is their right. They are preventing service providers from earning an income. They are destroying property that is not theirs to destroy. They are frankly no better than common schoolyard bullies. It’s their way, and only their way. What rot! This is sadly a case of the tail wagging the dog, which is unfortunately all too prevalent in this beautiful country of ours. What is this lot going to do when they don’t get a corner office and company car at their first job? Burn down the employers premises? Grow up!
  160. Nothing in life is free..someone along the line has to pay. Why are you studying? …to get a PAID job…If you study for free…will you work for free?
  161. And Lecturers are welcome to put work on intranet so that some can study in peace.

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Please Note: This poll will gauge sentiment amongst a wider range of persons than just the student body and as such cannot be seen to be the sole indicator of student sentiment only. Some duplication of voting may occur due to the method used to constrict voting as far as possible to one vote per person. This poll is NOT an official NMMU poll and nor is any endorsement or support of said poll implied or claimed by MyPE.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.