Cut to the chase, Blade, or varsity shutdown will continue The minister is meeting universities, with Sasco expecting feedback on Wednesday 16 March 2021 - 20:10
Higher education minister Blade Nzimande is meeting university councils and vice-chancellors to persuade them to allow all students, including those with outstanding debt, to register for the 2021 academic year.
He was tasked with this duty during a virtual meeting between the powerful South African Students Congress (Sasco) and the ANC’s top six, as well as finance minister Tito Mboweni and police minister Bheki Cele, on Monday.
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UFS to allow students to register if they owe less than R20,000 University of the Free State plans on enrolling more than 8,200 first-year students this academic year 15 March 2021 - 16:08 Students close down the streets of Braamfontein as they fight for the clearance of historical debt for students, among other demands. Image: Alaister Russell
Even though the University of Free State (UFS) has more than R300m in outstanding debt, the institution has agreed to allow students who owe less than R20,000 to register.
Rector and vice-chancellor Prof Francis Petersen made the announcement at the weekend.
Speaking during a media briefing, Petersen said the university has had a number of engagements with the SRC and has agreed that non-NSFAS students who owe less than R20,000 will be allowed to register.
Wits calls for restraint ahead of ‘total shutdown’ by students Updated
Anastasi Mokgobu
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Wits has pleaded with students and the student representative council (SRC) to resolve their complaints through dialogue and engagement.
Emmanuel Croset / AFP
The SRC is expected to join a total shutdown of tertiary institutions by students around the county on Monday.
The shutdown is part of the ongoing protests over the financial exclusion of indebted students.
Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel says the representatives from the university’s senior executive team met with a delegation from the SRC on Friday evening.
She says the institution is working around the clock to assist students who need financial aid.
'If it means we need to join forces to do it, we are prepared to do anything for students,' said Wits University SRC deputy president Sthembiso Dabula.