Student riots to rock South Africa political landscape

Significance

Protests against the fee increases, which disproportionately hurt poor, mostly black students, are occurring across the country. The most dramatic incident occurred on October 21 when hundreds of students marched on parliament during the finance minister's budget speech.

Impacts

• In poorer communities, frustration over lack of social mobility could mix with xenophobic sentiment and result in attacks on foreigners.
• Universities' funding crisis will accelerate decline in standards and probably exacerbate skills shortages affecting firms.
• The ANC may use the fees issue to justify a review of the autonomy of universities, which has been a source of political criticism.
• Social media campaigns could fuel solidarity protests in foreign cities with large diasporic communities, such as London.