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Presidency rejects rumours of free education announcement

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President Jacob Zuma has no plans to announce a programme for free higher education until he reviews the report of a commission studying the feasibility of such a programme, according to the presidency.

It has rejected a report that Zuma planned to announce the R40-billion education plan during his State-of-the-Nation address last February.

The rand slipped to a one-year low on Friday amid reports that Zuma was preparing to introduce free higher education, which would put further pressure on public finances.

“The President has tasked the inter-ministerial committee on higher education funding, headed by the minister in the presidency and the presidential fiscal committee to process the report on higher education and advise them on how to respond to the content thereof. Any action going forward will result from careful consideration by relevant structures in government,” says presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga.

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