The Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, has called for the national shutdown to end. However, his comments about it are now landing him in hot water as some students call for him to be fired.
Nzimande said the following during a parliamentary portfolio committee meeting:
The shutdown must be called off as soon as possible because we are worried that the academic year is already short and let's make use of all the opportunities we have.
He then went on to say, "Every year, it’s like a soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. Every beginning of the year there is instability". Not his best move as this is now being criticised.
The EFF Student Command is not letting this comment slide and put out a statement which read:
The EFF calls for the removal of the failed Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande, after his callous, stupid and insensitive comments.
Students have been protesting every year, which the EFFSC says is valid, and the Minister's comment was "invalidating the pain and struggles of a generation of young people".
Some Universities have settled, such as the University of the Western Cape and a few others, and others are close to settling.
With predictions of a third wave emerging, Nzimande said that this will further delay the academic year as tougher restrictions will have to once again be put in place.
