EDWIN NAIDU
SEFAKO Makgatho Health Sciences University became the latest among several institutions experiencing student protests last week. Since the 2023 academic year began, unrest has plagued universities and colleges across South Africa. Four students were suspended at Sefako Makgatho as protests turned ugly.
The tension escalated similarly to the challenges across many campuses, resulting from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances, accommodation capping, limiting space for registration, and infrastructure and security.
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation heard about student unhappiness over NSFAS was delaying the list of funded students, making it harder for poor and middle-class students to register within the set registration window.
These negatively impacted the teaching and learning process, and poor performances in the first term and instability on many campuses could be expected.
The Committee said it was not pleased with the poor communication by NSFAS and Universities South Africa, as it came up with policies without informing the Committee about the reasons behind them.
In the current financial year, the Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) budgeted R47 billion to fund 1.1 million students.
According to Dr Marcia Socikwa, Deputy Director-General (DDG): University Education, Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the preparations for the 2023 academic year included hosting December 2022 engagements with registrars, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), as well as NSFAS and developing a monitoring tool based on the experience of previous years.
The Monitoring Tool focused on Registration-related Issues, NSFAS-related Issues, student accommodation, returning student registration, and financial matters. Issues for the 2023 registration period included the late release of NSC results, issues relating to possible fraud, capping of accommodation costs to R45Â 000, delayed submission of funded lists to universities, and delays in confirming spaces.
This resulted in protests at the University of Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg, the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology, Sol Plaatjie University (SPU), North-West University, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Western Cape.
Sam Zungu, DDG: TVET Branch, DHET, said the disruptions in teaching and learning included the delayed release of results, delayed disbursement of allowances, demand for accommodations, a rape incident of a Tshwane North TVET student in private accommodation, and there are mitigation plans set for the reduction and prevention of further disruptions.
Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), USAf, said academic classes began at all 26 universities. In most institutions, registration overlapped with attendance of lectures.
Seven universities made provision for late registration for a selected number of students. Several universities had to extend their registration period and the start of the academic year because of the late release of matric results and delays in NSFAS funding. This was because decisions with students’ funding lists arrived late.
Prof Dipiloane Phutsisi, President of, South African Public Colleges Organisation (SAPCO), said 14 colleges experienced student unrest.
SAPCO will work closely with colleges to monitor the situation where there is unrest, and meetings will be held with SA TVET leadership for intervention.
NSFAS management will be continuously engaged to resolve funding issues, and more intervention processes will be implemented.
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