The story behind Wits students’ struggle

Students of all races, backgrounds and creeds united in the call to decrease fees at higher learning institutes. In the two weeks that students protested many issues were highlighted including the plight of many students who although academically qualify to study, they are financially excluded from entering institutions of higher learning.

Nontobeko Khenisa (20) is a second year student from Wits University studying a BCom Degree. She said that currently she owes the university R13 800 in outstanding fees that is not covered by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Khenisa said that she was making up the shortfall by cutting down on her meals.

She said that since both of her parents have died she could only rely on her grandmother who is a pensioner from KwaZulu-Natal. “I have two brothers and two sisters who are all unemployed and can’t really help me much with the financial problems that I face,” she said. She pointed out that she took part in the zero per cent fees increase protest because it was high time students’ voices were heard. She added that poor students like herself were at risk if free education did not become a reality soon.

Sitholithemba Makhanya (18) said that she attended Wits university because it had a high quality of education and was a very respected institute. She is being sponsored by two bursaries with one paying for her fees and the other paying for her accommodation costs. Makhanya said that she had to rely on her unemployed parents for additional funding. “Where I come from most people have never seen the doors of university and most people are unemployed,” she said.

Makhanya pointed out that she was taking part in the protest to highlight the need for free education in South Africa as well as to eradicate outsourcing at the university. “Some kids get R2 500 as pocket money and now the university wants to pay an adult such little money. The cleaners have children and the cost of living is high,” she said.

Second year Chemical Engineering student Nokubonga Maba (21) said that she joined the protest because 10.5 per cent fees increase was “ridiculous” and that Wits fees always went up on a yearly basis. Maba said that her mother was an administrator and her father was a truck driver and she was a recipient of the NSFAS loan.

“My parents are struggling financially as there are three of us who are at school, my parents are always asking me to make a plan but I have tried to find other bursaries, so my parents don’t have to worry. But it’s very difficult to find one regardless of my marks,’ she said.

She pointed out that any additional time that she has she spends it studying and was unable to find a job as she feared that she may fail. Kwazi Dlamini, a first year student at Wits, said that NSFAS only paid for his fees and accommodation costs. He said that his two older brothers helped him where they could, but they face financial pressure themselves.

“I joined the protest because some of my friends have to fund their own studies and I can see how they struggle financially,” he said. Dlamini pointed out that if qualifying students received free education many student problems would be solved. Bandile Mahlangu said that although NSFAS paid for his fees and accommodation, he only received R800 per month for food and this he pointed out was very little.

“I end up having to rely on my parents for what I need and for them it’s hard because I have four siblings that my parents must financially support as well,” he said. He said that the government must do something about the high cost of tertiary institutions as it would address the struggle students from poor homes face.

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