The #FeesMustFall protests, which began last October and swept across the country, have cost South African universities almost half a billion in costs due to damages.

The Department of Higher Education revealed the damage costs last night in parliament’s National Assembly.

According to minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, The total cost amounted to R459 million during #FeesMustFall related protests between October and May this year.

The protests, which began as peaceful demonstrations at Wits University in Johannesburg, were marred by violence as students began damaging campus properties around the country.

Scroll through the interactive map below to see the damages incurred at each university where the protests happened.

Not enough money to cover all #FeesMustFall damages

According to Nzimande, his department had contributed R40.4 million to cover costs at five institutions, namely:

• University of Fort Hare (R8 million)
• University of Zululand (R4.5 million)
• University of the Western Cape (R25.8 million)
• Walter Sisulu University (R351 287)
• University of Limpopo (R1.7 million).

Insurers have reportedly paid out R28.277 million in claims by various universities.

[Source – News24, image – Twitter]