Zuma¡¯s fees giveaway is ¡®unaffordable populism¡¯ for South Africa

¡°Populist¡± plans by South Africa¡¯s outgoing president Jacob Zuma to abolish tuition fees for poorer students are highly unlikely to materialise, according to sector experts.

On 바카라사이트 eve of 바카라사이트 African National Congress¡¯s annual conference, which saw Cyril Ramaphosa elected 바카라사이트 ruling party¡¯s new president, Mr Zuma ?that he would ¡°extend fully subsidised free higher education to [those from] well over 90 per cent of South African households¡±.

Under 바카라사이트 proposal, which would take effect for those starting university in February 2018, any student from a household with a combined annual income of less than R350,000 (?20,563) would be eligible for free tuition and financial support.

The move overrules 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 Heher Commission, a judge-led 18-month investigation into higher education funding, which recommended in November that South Africa move to a UK-style system of tuition fee loans ¨C a proposal that sparked a wave of protests on campuses.

However, Martin Hall, emeritus professor in 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town¡¯s Graduate School of Business, said that 바카라사이트re was widespread scepticism over 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 policy, which had been met with ¡°overwhelming silence¡± by 바카라사이트 university community.

¡°This was widely seen as a populist move to bolster support for President Zuma¡¯s favoured candidate [Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, his ex-wife] ahead of 바카라사이트 highly contested race to find his successor, who will almost certainly become president in 2019,¡± said Professor Hall, a former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Salford.

¡°It is understandable that university leaders do not want to be drawn into this debate in this context.¡±

Many within Mr Zuma¡¯s own party, including his own minister of finance, have expressed major doubts over 바카라사이트 affordability of this plan, added Professor Hall, who said that 바카라사이트 ANC¡¯s newly elected ¡°top six¡± were divided over 바카라사이트 policy.

¡°It is not at all clear how it will be paid for or how it will be implemented,¡± said Professor Hall, who is concerned that a mooted rise in value-added tax to pay for free fees would hit South Africa¡¯s poorest taxpayers hardest.

Professor Hall said, however, that 바카라사이트 policy itself was commendable because tuition fees in South Africa, which must be paid up front, are high compared with average wages and remained a barrier to entry for many middle-income families.

¡°In 바카라사이트 appropriate political context, it is absolutely 바카라사이트 right decision to make,¡± he said.

Belinda Bozzoli, 바카라사이트 former deputy vice-chancellor (research) at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand and 바카라사이트 opposition Democratic Alliance¡¯s shadow higher education minister, agreed that 바카라사이트 policy¡¯s aim was laudable. Mr Zuma¡¯s pledge to raise spending on higher education from 0.68 per cent of gross domestic product to 1 per cent within five years was a good idea, she explained.

However, that promise ¨C and 바카라사이트 ¡°completely uncosted and unfunded¡± free tuition fees pledge ¨C was clearly unaffordable, she said.

¡°This will be hugely expensive ¨C about R12.4 billion for 바카라사이트 coming year, but this type of money isn¡¯t just floating around. Instead we have an R80 billion deficit,¡± Professor Bozzoli explained.

¡°As President Zuma is now a lame duck, I am not sure this will fly,¡± she added, calling 바카라사이트 policy a ¡°populist ploy for Zuma to go out on a note of radical economic transformation¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com