By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Wits University management and the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) have agreed to extend the student registration deadline until Tuesday, 25 February 2025.
Both parties have also agreed to approach private accommodation service providers for support in sponsoring extra beds for students through the Hardship Accommodation process.
According to Wits management over 97% of undersgraduate students have been registered, with postgraduate registration opportunities available at specific times throughout the year.
“As far as resources allow and subject to approval by a joint task team set up by the parties, it was agreed that the registration of undergraduate academically deserving students with an outstanding debt of less than R150 000 would be considered, as well as those qualifying undergraduate students who have been approved for assistance by both the Wits Hardship Fund and the Wits SRC Legacy Fund to register, provided that they owe less than R150 000 after having received assistance from these Funds, ” Wits spokesperson, Shirona Patel said.
“Qualifying students in these categories should check their student email accounts for more information from the Finance Division and students can register thereafter at their respective Faculty offices on Monday and Tuesday, added Patel.
They also agreed to fundraise to enable the registration of postgraduate students.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has been engaging with universities and student bodies across South Africa in preparation for the 2025 academic year.
Her visits to institutions like the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Nelson Mandela University, aim to assess their readiness for the upcoming year.
Nkabane said they were told NSFAS-funded students were sitting at 75% but funding decisions have not been concluded, which worried her.
She said they engaged with the Department of Basic Education to address the delay in matric results possibly affecting NSFAS and university decisions. They hope to return to releasing results on time so universities can make registration decisions and funding decisions can be made.
Nkabane said it is crucial to send concluded registration information to NSFAS promptly. This ensures concurrent processing, avoids delays, and prevents supply-demand issues caused by waiting for all registration data before starting NSFAS processes. Sharing information quickly is key to maintaining stability.
She expressed happiness over UKZN’s decision on the 36-month payment of historic debt and that universities should have an open-door policy between management and students. She appealed to UKZN to extend registration by another week.