After one public university announced an increase in registration costs for the next academic year, student leaders led students in protests to reject this decision.
The University of Pretoria (UP) has announced that it will be increasing its registration costs for South African and SADC region undergraduate students to R5 000 to R7 500 and for post-graduate students from R7 500 to R10 000.
Whilst, international undergraduate students will be required to pay R40 000 as their first payment, while postgraduate students will be required to pay 50% of the total 2023 fee.
The university has since explained that the first payment, due at registration, was part of the total annual fee and was not in addition.
However, in a presentation, the Student Representative, General Secretary, Tarik Lalla has said:
The SRC has since proposed that the costs be increased by 10%, and then gradually increase thereafter, should the increment be something that ought to take place.
UP’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tawana Kupe, reiterated that students who may not be able to make their first payment could approach the UP for financial assistance from its various schemes to assist those in need.
Kupe has also shared that the adjustment would not affect all students, as students that are funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and other external sponsors are not required to make the first payment.
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation Chairperson, Nompendulo Mkhatshwa has pointed out that the numerous issues that the university has are an indication that a common ground hasn’t been reached.
The university’s executive said it will be engaging with the SRC in fact-based dialogue to work together in this regard.
