The #FeesMustFall movement and student leadership at the University of the Free State (UFS): Reflections from SRC members

Abstract

The academic year 2015/2016 took the South African government and institutions of higher learning by surprise when students took to the streets to protest for #FeeFree higher education, among many issues. The protests became known as the #FeesMustFall campaign, which engulfed all 26 South African public universities. The Students Representative Council (SRC) at the University of the Free State (UFS) faced a mammoth task of uniting students under the same banner of these protests and campaigns. Some students perceived protests as a hindrance to their academic journey, while others felt that protests were needed. The article examines the inner struggles faced by SRC members during #FeesMustFall at UFS. This article was located within the Interpretivist paradigm, using Critical Reflection Theory (CRT) as a theoretical framework, which assisted in reflecting on past experiences of the seven SRC members. A qualitative research method was used, which permitted the utilisation of newspaper clippings, semi-structured interviews and secondary published data, among others. The data was thematically analysed and assisted the researchers in making informed conclusions. The article concludes that SRC’s, when united, can achieve a lot. Additionally, political differences are not a hindrance when participants have a common goal. This article contributes to the growing body of knowledge in reflecting on the perceptions and views of SRC members regarding the #FeesMustFall at UFS.