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Free education announcement a political ploy
President Jacob Zuma’s decision to provide free tertiary education for to families with a combined household income below R350 000 will place considerable pressure on academic institutions, says Lumkile Mondi, Senior Lecturer, Wits.
Sat, 16 Dec 2017 13:51:11 GMT
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AI Generated Summary
- The decision to offer free tertiary education is seen as a political move to support Zuma's preferred candidate and garner additional votes.
- The lack of consultation and budgetary planning for the initiative raises concerns about its impact on academic institutions and the economy.
- The centralization of power within the presidency and Zuma's focus on political gain could have negative consequences for South Africa's future.
President Jacob Zuma's recent announcement to provide free tertiary education to families with a combined household income below R350,000 has been met with criticism and skepticism. Lumkile Mondi, a Senior Lecturer at Wits School of Economics and Business Science, expressed concerns about the decision, calling it a 'political ploy' in a recent interview with CNBC Africa. Mondi suggested that the president's decision was driven more by political motives than financial considerations, citing Zuma's need to bolster support for his preferred candidate, Gossazana Daminizuma. He suggested that the move was aimed at showcasing radical transformation and winning over undecided voters. Mondi highlighted that the decision did not appear to be consultative and raised questions about its budgetary implications. He pointed out that the centralization of power within the presidency could have significant consequences for the country's economy and academic institutions.