KZN universities brace for walk-ins

SOME of KwaZulu-Natal’s top universities will be taking a hard line against accepting “walk-in” applications from prospective students who had not applied to study before the start of the new academic year.

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) said last week it would not accept walkins.

This as the SA Students Congress is demanding that universities make space for all the students expected to flock to various institutions following the announcement by President Jacob Zuma that poor first-year students would be subsidised.

EFF leader Julius Malema recently called on all people who had been unable to afford tertiary education to join the queues on registration day.

However, Universities South Africa has warned that Malema’s call could lead to chaos at universities. The body was also critical of Zuma for making the announcement without consulting universities.

DUT’s communications manager, Noxolo Memela, said the university had received 92 464 applications for firstyear study, but had 7 500 spaces.

University of KwaZuluNatal communications director Bhekani Dlamini said there were 8 776 spaces in the first-year undergraduate programmes. “University management is awaiting details on the implementation and rollout of fee-free education from the Department of Higher Education and Training.”