Every year, the expense of attending a South African university becomes unsustainable for students.
University students in South Africa will spend an average of $3000 USD in 2023, according to research from financial services giant Old Mutual.
Students at the University of the Witwatersrand have shut down the campus in protest at the exclusion of students who cannot afford to enrol for the next academic year and pay off debt.
According to one of the student organizers, they are asking that the university not leave academically deserving students adrift.
Lungile Magagula, Wits University Student Forum Interim Chairperson said financial exclusion is not a valid reason to bar students from starting the new academic year.
“The problem here is that students are not able to register due to financial reasons. Most students who are unable to register are academically deserving to register but they are unable to because of financial reasons. And that is one of our major demands,” said Magagula.
Last week, students at Wits University were seen sleeping in public places due to delays in securing financial aid for accommodation.
Onkokame Seepamore, a final year BA Law student expresses concern that financial aid for accommodation continues to be a struggle every year.
“At the current moment, I don’t have funding and I am appealing for financial aid. For the past years, it was okay but this year it became a struggle because I didn’t have funding at all. I had problems getting accommodation and registering.” said Seepamore.
Jabulile Mbanjwa, Bachelor of Laws (LLB) student recalls repeatedly applying for bursaries but with no luck.
“I studied a BA Law and I am doing the two postgraduate LLB and because financial aid has defunded the two year and three year stream of LLB I am stuck without funding. I was fortunate to register but I don’t know how I am going to cover my fees and I was not able to get accommodation because I don’t have financial aid. “ recalls Mbanjwa.
Fees Must Fall protests occurred on universities across South Africa seven years ago. Students demanded free and high-quality tertiary education. Lungile believes that now is the moment to put pressure on the government to give free education.
“It is time for us to consider free education. These are issues that emanate from us not having free education. It is time for the government and universities to work together in order to consider free education“, demands Magagula.
At this point, students and management of Wits University are still locked in negotiations.
On the ground, students are hoping that a mutual solution will come sooner rather than later.