We, a group of concerned academics, civil society leaders, lecturers, university administrators, students and everyday people, appeal to you to consider our call to stop the immediate roll-out of all online teaching platforms by higher education institutions. Majority of students or staff from low-income backgrounds do not have the means to make this move right now. The response by privileged institutions like WITS and UCT to the COVID-19 pandemic not only exposes their disinterest in the collective educational development of the country but also creates a way of ensuring that historically black institutions and students remain undeveloped. These are not normal times, it cannot be business as usual at the expense of students who will be left behind.

Our full proposal is available here: https://bit.ly/public-universities-plan