SA Frustrated over Nzimande Comparing Student Protests to a 'Soapie'

SA Frustrated over Nzimande Comparing Student Protests to a 'Soapie'

- Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has annoyed Mzansi with his comments about the annual student protests

- Nzimande compared the protests against financial exclusion to the soapie The Bold and the Beautiful

- South Africans are using social media to express their disdain and frustration towards Nzimande during this trying time

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Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has caused a ruckus once more with his words. Nzimande referred to the annual protests for free education as a 'soap opera, using The Bold and the Beautiful as an example.

Nzimande's comments follow nationwide protests at tertiary institutions against financial exclusion. Some have turned violent and resulted in various injuries while some universities are trying different ways to get the message across.

Nzimande was briefing Parliament’s Higher Education Oversight Committee about the ongoing protests around South Africa.

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Nzimande compares annual students fees protests to 'soapie'
Blade Nzimande compared annual student protests to soapies recently. Images: Cornel van Heerden/Foto24/Gallo Images & Jeffrey Abrahams/Gallo Images
Source: Getty Images

According to Daily Maverick, Nzimande and the Higher Education Department are expected to meet with the South African Union of Students (SAUS) again. Nzimande and SAUS are reportedly planning to discuss demands by students and the national shutdown of universities.

South Africans have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts about Nzimande's recent comments. Read some of the posts below:

@lesego_louw said:

"Blade Nzimande says the fees protests were “the bold and the beautiful”. Does this man know someone died??! Mthokozisi was murdered and he thinks we’re a joke?! Yoh. This man must GO!"'

@LeratoMoo2 shared:

"For @lasizwe to replace Blade Nzimande, be a new minister and take over Blade's seat in parliament. We need young ministers with creative minds who are full of energy."

@Sefularo_Keamo wrote:

"Its Blade Nzimande comparing Fees Must Fall to the Bold and the Beautiful for him the NSFAS crisis is like a soapie. So we are acting and he's enjoying the drama."

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@moesuttIe tweeted:

"People are risking being banned and expelled by institutions of higher learning and their lives for a basic human right and the person who is supposed to ensure that they get it says they are being dramatic? Yhu hayi BLADE NZIMANDE."

@iKingVele_Le added:

"Blade Nzimande really just compared the struggle of young people for access to education to a “boring daily soaps The Bold and the Beautiful”. This is the same man that has been a Minister for more than 5 years."

Previously, Briefly.co.za reported that Nzimande spoke about NSFAS beneficiaries and annoyed SA once more. Nzimande said that around 67% of NSFAS students are also SASSA beneficiaries.

Nzimande stated that this is a great achievement as this means that the "child grant is working" adding that students that may have not been able to study are now reaching the stage where they can apply for tertiary education.

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South Africans have taken this news with a pinch of salt. Many Saffas have shared their thoughts about Nzimande's statement about child grant and NSFAS beneficiaries after a post was shared by popular parody account @AdvoBarryRoux on Twitter.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Reeshni Chetty avatar

Reeshni Chetty Reeshni Chetty is a senior current affairs reporter. The Damelin journalism and media studies graduate was top of her class with 16 distinctions and she boasts experience in radio, print and digital media. When Reeshni is not rushing to bring you the most important and breaking news in current affairs, she's raising awareness around mental health. Reeshni has a passion for breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues.