The rand-dollar exchange rate has fallen by approximately 22%, which has resulted in a substantial increase in the amount of money that we pay for all library books, journals, electronic resources, research equipment that are procured in dollars and euros.

[11]Although the focus of the protests was focused on a rise in fees a number of factors formed the background for the protests from a lack of funding for poorer students to attend university, high incomes for University managers,[12] a real decline in government funding for higher education,[13] lack of social transformation, to broader socio-economic and racial inequality issues.

[19] On Sunday 18 October messages started circulating on Facebook about a possible complete shut down of the Rhodes University campus.

Students started blocking vehicle access by placing rocks, dustbins, and benches on the roads leading into the campus.

They refused to disperse or write exams until university management had dealt with concerns over fee increases and issues of corruption.

[24] On Wednesday 21 October 2015 students from both the University of Cape Town as well as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology formed a crowd of around 5,000 protesters[25] marched on the South African Parliament which coincided with the meeting of the National Assembly -with both Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and President Jacob Zuma in attendance- which was in session to hear the medium-term budget.

Protest action also started at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, when students blocked the main roads onto the Summerstrand campuses.

[27] At least one altercation with the police took place when tear gas and rubber bullets were used to push students back onto campus.

[37][non-primary source needed] During the morning university vice chancellors and student representatives met with President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria to negotiate a way forward.

Whilst they were meeting, a large group of protesting students assembled outside the Union Buildings to await Zuma's response.

A small group turned violent, setting fire to a portable toilet and breaking down fences.

[45] In mid-August 2016, the Minister of Higher Education and Training was widely expected to announce fee structures for the 2017 academic year.

[46] Led by Honourable Justice Jonathan Heher, a former judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the Fees Commission began set 1 of the hearings.

[49][non-primary source needed][50] Later in the day Minister for Higher Education, Blade Nzimande called for calm stating that no decision had (yet) been reached about fees.

Meanwhile, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe reaffirmed the National Executive Committee's prevailing policy of no fee increases at South African universities.

[55][56] South African president Jacob Zuma instructs Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to "find the money" to ensure a 0% increase in 2017.

This came despite National Treasury's warning that this was unaffordable and Nzimande's earlier position that universities needed at least a 6% increase to avoid "collapse".

[57] The students conducted a feasibility study with an independent source and it was found that R60 Billion was lost in corruption annually and that free education at the same standard as it is paid (facilities, lectures etc.)

[58] Pravin Gordhan is reported as saying that if corruption could be addressed, South Africa could afford to cover university fees for students from poor backgrounds.

[60] A group of students disrupted the Fees commission hearing and blocked University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor Max Price from leaving the venue.

[62] The University of Cape Town suspended its academic project in anticipation of an announcement on the fees situation by Minister Nzimande.

On 19 October two security guards were allegedly attacked on the University of Cape Town campus during a protest[71][72][73] with video evidence published by a number of news sites.

[75] The 2016 protests saw the movement lose momentum, due to alleged sabotage by the PYA (an alliance of the leading party, the ANC)[76] and internal divisions.

[78] The protests also increased the use of blended learning by South African universities to assist non-protesting students complete their courses.

Police used stun grenades, rubber bullets, teargas and water cannons to disperse students on the East side of the campus.

"[citation needed][81] On 18 October 2016, it was said by students demonstrating at the University of Witwatersrand, that police officers were targeting leaders to weaken the movement.

[citation needed][80] Wits student Arthur Muhamelwa was arrested by police on Sunday, who proceeded to abduct him.

[71] A worker at the University of Witwatersrand died during the protests due to an apparent asthma attack as a result of a fire extinguisher being set off on campus.

[89][90] The movement along with #Rhodesmustfall has been criticised by the Institute of Race Relations for eroding freedom of speech in South African universities by promoting intolerance of alternative points of view, with pro-FeesMustFall activists taking actions ranging from shouting down non-supporters to acts of intimidation and violence.

[91] A number of people involved in the #feesmustfall protests (most notably Naledi Chirwa, Vuyani Pambo, Peter Keetse and Dali Mpofu) were registered as Economic Freedom Fighters party representatives for the 2019 South African general election.