Unisa Pretoria main campus students protest over registration fee
Varsity also told to provide residences
Protesting students at the University of SA (Unisa) brought operations to a halt at the main campus in Pretoria yesterday.
The students’ grievances relate to payment of registration fees. The Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) prevented staff from entering the premises after messages were sent to students that they should pay a minimum registration fee of R1 400 by today or face exclusion.
PYA said the messages came as a shock to them as there were students who are still waiting for a response from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
PYA regional secretary Siphiwe Marema said they won’t allow the institution to deprive black students of their right to education.
“The institution should [make classes affordable] to students, especially those who are not working.
“Beneficiaries of free education cannot be expected to pay the minimum registration fee, where will they get the money from? We demand free education for disadvantaged students who fall under the poverty line,” Marema said.
Student Kamo Tele, 19, said she couldn’t afford to pay R1 400 as she was waiting for a response from NSFAS.
The students also demanded that Unisa provide residences for students who live far.
“The Unisa language policy [also] needs to be amended as it can’t be that some students are allowed to write in their mother tongue and others not.”
After a meeting with management, it was agreed that those students who have applied for NSFAS will not pay the registration fee today.
It was also agreed that submission of assignments which were due this week will be extended.
Students who were at the institution for applications, registrations and payments were only assisted after 11am.
Another student Zikhona Nkosi, 34, said she took a day off to sort out her registration. “Last week I couldn’t register because workers were on strike, and yesterday (Wednesday) I was turned back because I came after 3pm. When I arrived today there was a protest.”