Wits University have responded to the demands laid forward by the SRC.
Wits University has come out and addressed the demands of the Student Representative Council. In a statement released by the university, they said that they cannot meet the demands of the student-led body. They said, “The protesting students have made two main demands, they would like all returning students to be given accommodation or funding for accommodation, and they would like all returning students with historic debt (those who owe R100 000 or less) to be registered immediately. Unfortunately, these are two demands that the university cannot meet if the university is to remain financially sustainable.”
According to the university, they process over R100 million in student financial aid, scholarships and bursaries annually. During this time they have made several concessions including postponing of the upfront fee for students on NSFAS, scholarships and bursaries and for those who cannot afford to pay immediately. They have even gone to the extent to allow returning students who owe R10 000 or less permission to register for the 2019 academic year.
In addition to the financial concessions they have made, they are also working with external service providers and partners to secure additional accommodation. This would be an essential victory as the university only has 6 200 beds that have been allocated to students.
The university also set up a Wits Hardship Fund worth R12 million which is being allocated to students who are in urgent need of assistance. The fund has so far been able to award funding to about 80 students for urgent accommodation and evaluate another 200 other applications that have come through in recent days. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme limit for external accommodation has also been increased to R40 000 for new registrations in 2018 and 2019.
Addressing the hunger needs of some students, the university stated they are aware of the problem and provided ways to elevate it. “As in previous years, the university has also made provision through the Wits Food Bank, the Gift of the Givers and the Wits Food Programme to ensure that students have access to food. About 1 000 students are assisted through these programmes on a daily basis.”
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