For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: EFF Students Command demands fee-free registration at universities, SAA secures R3.5-billion loan to keep operating until March And, the UN urges DRC to restore internet services as a “matter of urgency”

EFF Students Command demands fee-free registration at universities

The Economic Freedom Fighters Students Command has vowed to take to the streets if government does not meet its demand for fee-free registration at universities.

EFF Students Command national president Peter Keetse explained that many students were accepted at higher education institutions but that they did not study their chosen course because they could not afford the registration fees.
 

He said part of the sizofunda ngenkani – or we will study by force – campaign included free education for all.

Ketse said they wrote to the Department of Higher Education about the issue in December 2018 and gave them until January 9 to respond to their memorandum.

SAA secures R3.5-billion loan to keep operating until March

SAA says it has secured the R3.5-billion loan it needed to keep operating until the end of the financial year in March, providing a temporary relief for the cash-strapped airline.

The loss-making flag carrier, which is battling cash flow challenges, is implementing a three-year turnaround strategy, and has said it needs a total of R21.7-billion in loans over the same period.

SAA Spokesperson Tlali Tlali stated that there was no expectation that SAA was going to become profitable before 2021, stressing that plans were underway to steer the airline out of its financial quagmire.

The UN urges DRC to restore internet services as a “matter of urgency”

United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression David Kaye has urged the DRC to restore internet services as a “matter of urgency”, warning that the continued blocking of all primary telecommunications is a clear violation of international law.

The UN News reported that more than a week after voters went to the polls to choose a new president , results have yet to be announced and all primary telecommunications remain shut down.

A senior government official said the authorities cut internet and text services to preserve public order after “fictitious results” began circulating on social media.

The official said the internet would be restored after the preliminary results that were due to be announced on 6 January, but have since been postponed.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

To keep in touch with the news while you are on the move, visit m.polity.org.za