The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Tebogo Letsie, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing student protests at the University of the Witwatersrand. It was reported that students have embarked on a hunger strike.
The protest stems from what students perceive as the university’s financial exclusion policy, which requires students to have a debt of less than R10,000 or be able to pay at least 50% of their outstanding debt to register for the academic year.
Letsie said it is disturbing that students must resort to such measures to access education.
It is deeply disturbing that students in a democratic South Africa feel compelled to resort to such extreme measures to access education. Education is a fundamental right, and no student should be forced to endure such hardship to pursue their academic aspirations.
Letsie said it was heartbreaking that students could potentially be left behind for failing to pay outstanding fees. "To learn that students are pleading with university management to be allowed to register is heartbreaking, especially when we have consistently advocated that no student should be left behind," said the Chairperson.
The Chairperson called on the university to engage constructively with the affected students and work towards finding an amicable solution.
We urge the university management to approach this matter with empathy and urgency. The plight of these students underscores the broader challenges of financial exclusion in higher education, which require collective efforts to address.
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education is scheduled to meet with the university on Wednesday to discuss the institution’s governance, administration, teaching, and learning.
Letsie continued to say, "We remain committed to ensuring that all students have access to quality education, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with all stakeholders to address systemic barriers to education".
Wits Says It Assisted Students
Wits University says it has made every effort to assist students with registration, claiming a 95% registration rate for the 2025 academic year, encompassing approximately 37,295 students.
We remain committed to working with the SRC to raise as much funds as we can for academically talented students who meet the various criteria.
The university provided R1.8 billion in financial aid, bursaries, and scholarships in 2024, including NSFAS funding, university council funds, and a hardship fund.
Wits also points to R63 million in debt relief provided to 796 students, R28 million allocated to the Wits Hardship Fund, an R8 million donation specifically for postgraduate students, and matching the SRC's R2.5 million fundraising efforts.
"Funding remains a challenge, but significant progress has been made. In 2024, Wits administered approximately R1.8 billion in financial aid, bursaries, and scholarships."
The university acknowledges the financial challenges but conceded it cannot erase all student debt or fund every student without risking financial instability.
Wits is doing everything possible within its means to support students. However, the University cannot erase all historic student debt or fund every student’s education without risking bankruptcy or insolvency.
Wits argues that the issue of free education and student debt requires a national-level solution involving government, the public sector, and private donors.
