South Africa mulls welfare cuts to fund free higher education: reportJOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa s government is considering a range of budget cuts that could include slashing social grants for the most vulnerable in order to pay for free tertiary education, a newspaper reported on Friday. South Africa s rand weakened on Thursday after comments by President Jacob Zuma raised concerns about higher spending on education, which would put added strain on the country s already stretched public finances.  The Mail & Guardian newspaper said a presidential fiscal committee had presented a document to Zuma outlining possible cuts to fund free higher education for lower-income students as well as plugging a swelling budget deficit.  Options included cuts to the social grants that are the main source of income for around 17 million people - a third of the population - and slashing the budgets for housing, infrastructure and the armed forces. A freeze on civil servant wage hikes was also on the cards, the newspaper reported. The Presidency and Treasury did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Violent protests by students and activists demanding free tuition rocked several South African universities last year, underlying tensions in a country marred by glaring income disparities defined largely by race. South Africa is staring down the barrel of ratings downgrades after the Treasury last month widened the 2017/18 budget deficit estimate to 4.3 percent of gross domestic product while lowering this year s economic growth forecast to 0.7 percent from 1.3 percent. worldnews
south africa mulls welfare cuts fund free higher education reportjohannesburg reuters south africa government considering range budget cuts could include slashing social grants vulnerable order pay free tertiary education newspaper reported friday south africa rand weakened thursday comments president jacob zum raised concerns higher spending education would put added strain country already stretched public finances the mail guardian newspaper said presidential fiscal committee presented document zum outlining possible cuts fund free higher education students well plugging swelling budget deficit options included cuts social grants main source income around million people third population slashing budgets housing infrastructure armed forces a freeze civil servant wage hikes also cards newspaper reported the presidency treasury immediately respond requests comment violent protests students activists demanding free tuition rocked several south african universities last year underlying tensions country marred glaring income disparities defined largely race south africa staring barrel ratings downgraded treasury last month widened budget deficit estimate percent gross domestic product lowering year economic growth forecast percent percent worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: South Africa mulls welfare cuts to fund free higher education: reportJOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa s government is considering a range of budget cuts that could include slashing social grants for the most vulnerable in order to pay for free tertiary education, a newspaper reported on Friday. South Africa s rand weakened on Thursday after comments by President Jacob Zuma raised concerns about higher spending on education, which would put added strain on the country s already stretched public finances.  The Mail & Guardian newspaper said a presidential fiscal committee had presented a document to Zuma outlining possible cuts to fund free higher education for lower-income students as well as plugging a swelling budget deficit.  Options included cuts to the social grants that are the main source of income for around 17 million people - a third of the population - and slashing the budgets for housing, infrastructure and the armed forces. A freeze on civil servant wage hikes was also on the cards, the newspaper reported. The Presidency and Treasury did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Violent protests by students and activists demanding free tuition rocked several South African universities last year, underlying tensions in a country marred by glaring income disparities defined largely by race. South Africa is staring down the barrel of ratings downgrades after the Treasury last month widened the 2017/18 budget deficit estimate to 4.3 percent of gross domestic product while lowering this year s economic growth forecast to 0.7 percent from 1.3 percent. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: south africa mulls welfare cuts fund free higher education reportjohannesburg reuters south africa government considering range budget cuts could include slashing social grants vulnerable order pay free tertiary education newspaper reported friday south africa rand weakened thursday comments president jacob zum raised concerns higher spending education would put added strain country already stretched public finances the mail guardian newspaper said presidential fiscal committee presented document zum outlining possible cuts fund free higher education students well plugging swelling budget deficit options included cuts social grants main source income around million people third population slashing budgets housing infrastructure armed forces a freeze civil servant wage hikes also cards newspaper reported the presidency treasury immediately respond requests comment violent protests students activists demanding free tuition rocked several south african universities last year underlying tensions country marred glaring income disparities defined largely race south africa staring barrel ratings downgraded treasury last month widened budget deficit estimate percent gross domestic product lowering year economic growth forecast percent percent worldnews