Wits explains registration postponement
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits University has released a statement after students began protesting against registration fees.
The Wits University has urged all students to allow the registration process to continue undisrupted after a protest flared up on its Braamfontein campus on 11 January.
Over 6 000 prospective students were unable to complete their registration process after a protest disrupted the registration proceedings at Hall 29 and the Senate House.
Protesting students said that they did not have money to pay and called for free education or for the university to drop the R9 340 payable for registration.
Gates to the university remained open but students who were there to register had to leave and go back home after registration was halted due to the protest on campus.
@NewsNMT #FMF2016 Potential Wits students file off campus as registration hgalted.
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) January 11, 2016
Wits University responded in an email to students that the university has put in place an arrangement, the details of which were communicated to all students last year. Students who can pay are being asked to do so. Students who cannot pay can fill in a form online, indicating that they cannot pay, and the university will allow them to
register. The upfront fee payment is therefore not an obstacle to registration for any student.
@NewsNMT #FMF2016 Wits SRC President @Nompendulo discusses with comrades pic.twitter.com/AFvFOKOzfU
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) January 11, 2016
The university has said that regarding historical debt, for all students who were on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in 2015, an agreement has been reached with the state. “As per a statement issued by the Presidency, the historical debt of all students who were on NSFAS in 2015 will be settled by the state. Students who were not on NSFAS in 2015 will unfortunately be obliged to clear their debt before they will be allowed to register,” the statement read.
@NewsNMT #FMF2016 Banners are up…At the Wits orotest pic.twitter.com/LkiA2RmohP
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) January 11, 2016
Wits: SRC members are in Solomon House.Reports coming in that registration has been reopened at a new venue #FMF2016 pic.twitter.com/6ujXJ49QDD
— The Daily Vox (@thedailyvox) January 11, 2016
The statement concluded that students from the faculties of science, commerce, law and management, and humanities are urged to register online or to wait for further communication regarding the re-activation of face-to-face registration.
Related article:
BREAKING NEWS: Protesters cause disruptions at Wits
