By Thapelo Molefe
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Student Representative Council (SRC) has launched its 2026 SRC Trust Fund fundraising campaign aimed at assisting students who are unable to pay their registration fees for the 2026 academic year.
The SRC said the campaign seeks to ensure that no student is excluded from higher education because of financial constraints.
Funds raised through the initiative will be used to cover registration costs for qualifying self-funded students, with all donations administered through the UKZN Foundation and paid directly into approved students’ accounts.
The launch comes against the backdrop of longstanding financial challenges at UKZN, where students have for years struggled with registration fees and historical debt.
Financial exclusion has repeatedly been a trigger for student protests at the institution, with affected students demanding the scrapping or reduction of outstanding debt that prevents them from registering and continuing with their studies.
While the university has acknowledged the challenge and introduced a range of financial clearance concessions, including allowing qualifying students to register after paying only a portion of their debt, many students continue to face barriers.
UKZN management has previously described its concession package as among the most generous in the country.
Despite these measures, registration remains particularly difficult for self-funded students who do not receive support from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), as registration fees are generally required upfront.
In past registration periods, students have reported emotional and physical distress after being unable to register while awaiting funding approvals or financial clearance.
The SRC said the Trust Fund was established to ensure that “young people who are committed to educating themselves and contributing meaningfully to the economy of this country are not lost in the pipeline”.
Demand for financial assistance continues to rise.
In 2025, a total of 2,001 students applied for support from the SRC Trust Fund, representing an increase of 286 applications compared to 2024. If the trend continues, applications are expected to rise to about 2,287 in 2026.
The campaign is continuous, allowing donations to be made throughout the year.
SRC Treasurer General Lonwabo Xolo said the initiative is a direct response to the systemic nature of student financial exclusion at the university, a challenge that has also been reflected nationally through movements such as #FeesMustFall.
“Our commitment as an SRC to ensure that no student is left behind is overarched by the understanding that because we have the ability, the influence as well as the platform, we must by all means do all that is in our power to liberate students from the shackles that prevent them from completing their journeys at university,” Xolo said.
“With this campaign we are tackling financial exclusion as a barrier to education, head on.”
The SRC has appealed to alumni, corporate partners, non-governmental organisations, philanthropic bodies and members of the public to support the Trust Fund. Donations can be made via the UKZN Foundation website, where contributors are required to select the SRC Trust Fund as the project they wish to support.
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