The EFF Student Command is determined to have Unisa and Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, reverse their decision to cut down on 2021's first year admission numbers. The student organisation has had their court case reserved after they were at court on 2 March.
Mandla Shikwambane from the EFF Student Command said:
The court must instruct the Minister of Higher Education to reverse his decision of wanting to reduce the number of first year student intake at Unisa by 20 000. That's what we want. We are not willing to compromise on that.
The Minister requested that Unisa accepts fewer students in 2021, having the university cut down on 20 000 in their first-time entering students intake. Nzimande's instruction came as a result of wanting to ease the pressure on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
"You cannot come now and tell us that you don't have money. You are the Government. You are there Blade, you are the Minister. Make plans. Those 20 000 students, they want to go to school and they qualify to go to school," Shikwambane continued.
For the 2021 academic year, Unisa had an intake of around 58 000 first-time entering students but cut that number down to 37 000.
The South African Human Rights Commission along with the Black Sash organisation have said that the Minister's decision is irrational as it denies students access to higher education based on them needing financial aid.
Nzimande previously defended the decision by saying that the enrollment of students at Unisa has to match the numbers planned as there are dangers if there are either too many or too few enrolled.
The EFFSC believes that Nzimande cannot dictate how many student a University accepts and that, "the executive of Unisa did not act reasonable and impartially".
They have also called for the Minister to be fired
