Futures Lecture Series | #FeesMustFall & the Advancement of Social Justice
Professor Adam Habib, academic, researcher, activist, administrator, and renowned political commentator and columnist joins us as guest speaker for EFI's Futures Lecture Series showcasing pioneering interdisciplinary work across the sciences and humanities.
Transformation, democracy and development are fundamental themes of his research. His latest book, South Africa’s Suspended Revolution: Hopes and Prospects, has informed debates around the country’s transition into democracy, as well as its prospects for inclusive development.
#FeesMustFall and the Advancement of Social Justice
2015 and 2016 brought to the fore in South Africa two sets of events: the ‘#RhodesMustFall’ and ‘#FeesMustFall’ protests. Collectively, these became the largest student social movement since the dawn of the country’s democracy in 1994. The #FeesMustFall movement, whose principle concern was access for poor, black students to affordable, quality education, began at the University of the Witwatersrand and spread across the country, culminating in a march on the Union Buildings where former President Jacob Zuma conceded to a 0% fee increase for 2016.