Free Education? Promises and Policy in South African Higher Education Funding since 1994

University funding, and in particular funding for students, has been a challenge in South Africa since the transition to democracy in 1994. In 2015–16 it came to the fore during extensive protests centred on student fees, as well as demands for quality education and decolonisation of the curriculum. The #FeesMustFall protests, demanding free education, led to the temporary closure of many universities, a freeze on student fee increases and the formation of a Presidential Commission in 2016 to make recommendations on future student funding. This paper highlights the policy and funding context within which the protests took place, showing how the African National Congress and the state created expectations of increased funding for universities, growth in the sector, improved quality and free education, but did not significantly increase funding to meet expectations. The paper also considers competing priorities within the post-school education and training sector, the lack of prioritisation or costing, and the resultant frustration among all role players. In conclusion, the paper reflects briefly on the Fees Commission’s proposal, President Jacob Zuma’s announcement of free education in 2017, and the ongoing challenges at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.