Black business community expresses concern over student unrests

In a recent gathering of the Black Management Forum in Midrand, the Black Business Community expressed their concerns over the ongoing student unrest in South African universities. The members of the forum, including influential figures like Dumak Goula and Mornang Mohale, highlighted the urgent need for free education in the country while acknowledging that it is indeed possible to achieve. The focus of the discussion revolved around finding practical ways to fund free education in South Africa. Mohale emphasized that providing free tuition could cost the government 20 billion rand, which represents only a fraction of the national budget, debt, and GDP. He pointed out that countries like Botswana, Lesotho, Ethiopia, and Cuba, with fewer resources compared to South Africa, have successfully implemented free education policies. The forum members strongly emphasized the importance of prioritizing education as a fundamental investment for the future generation's prosperity. They proposed that allocating a portion of the country's trillion-rand revenue towards education could easily cover the costs of free education, laying a solid foundation for the nation's future. Despite the recent violent protests at universities like Wits, the call for free education remains a key focus for the Black Business Community. The ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, has urged students to return to class, emphasizing the importance of not losing academic years due to ongoing protests. While the ANC government has been working towards providing free education for the poor and the 'missing middle,' the dialogue on achieving this goal has become overshadowed by violent demonstrations. The Black Business Community's proposal for free education serves as a reminder of the critical role education plays in advancing social and economic progress in South Africa. The upcoming general assembly at Wits University signals a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate on education reform in the country.