Government shortfall forces Wits to raise fees

WITS University’s announcement yesterday that it was increasing fees by 8% was in response to being left with a shortfall of almost R60-million in funding promised by the government.

The fee increase decision is likely to set university management on a collision course with student protesters who have called for free higher education.

Meanwhile, the University of Johannesburg is expected to make an announcement today or tomorrow, while the University of Cape Town has yet to make an announcement on their fees decision for next year.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal, which also saw sustained fees protests, is also still to make a final determination on fees but has previously said that keeping fees the same would be detrimental to the university’s survival.

Yesterday, Wits said Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande’s department had not paid over money promised after last year’s #FeesMustFall protests, which saw President Jacob Zuma announcing that no South African university would increase fees this year.

The government allocated R2-billion to cover the shortfall in funding caused by keeping fees this year at the same level as last year.

Wits spokesman Shirona Patel said the university had no choice but to increase fees to sustain the institution financially.

“The SRC is aware of the university’s financial situation and we are hopeful that they understand we have no choice.”

Higher Education spokesman Busiswa Gqangeni said the department was unable to respond yesterday, and would most likely issue a statement today.

Wits said the state had committed to funding the increase for all students with a family income of less than R600 000. The department would also cover the increase for students on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) who fell outside the R600 000 bracket.

Patel said the student representative council was consulted.

But SRC secretary-general David Manabile said he was disappointed and saddened by the university’s “hilarious act”.

“We as the SRC were only consulted once. We can’t preempt what is going to happen [next year], but I can foresee . . . that students will protest again because they won’t be able to afford the fees,” he said.

The University of Fort Hare and Tshwane University of Technology have already announced that they would not increase fees. Cape Peninsula University of Technology recently announced fees would increase by 8% for those who could afford it, roughly 10% of students.