THE University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has announced it will have to increase fees for 2017, despite the recent #FeesMustFall protests.
Lesiba Seshoka, executive director of Corporate Relations at UKZN said the university was acutely aware of the financial constraints experienced by many of its students and their families, however, the long-term financial sustainability and survival of the university were also key considerations to ensure that UKZN could continue to serve its stakeholders appropriately into the future.
Seshoka said taking these issues into account, the Council of the University had approved an eight per cent tuition and an eight per cent residence accommodation fee increase for the 2017 academic year. The eight per cent increase will be covered by NSFAS and state funding (DHET) for all students that qualify for NSFAS funding as well as those that can demonstrate a household income below R600 000 per annum. Consequently, both NSFAS and “missing middle” (below R600 000 income) will not experience any fee increases for 2017.
“At UKZN this means that up to 70 per cent of our students will not be required to pay increased fees,”said Seshoka.
Students with a household income above R600 000 will be expected to pay the eight per cent increase as determined by Council.
“The decision to increase fees was not an easy one to make and was guided by the announcement made by Minister Blade Nzimande earlier this year and the annual surge in operational costs as well as the rand-dollar exchange rate,” said Seshoka.
