The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has granted debt-owing students the opportunity to for this year’s registration, an unprecedented move that will be welcomed by the ‘fees must fall’ community.
UWC allows registration for debt-owing students
The Academic year will commence on 8 Mar 2021. For those students who are not registered by 5 Mar 2021 due to awaiting financial clearance or the finalisation of their registration by their Faculty, you will be allowed an extension of registration until 12 Mar 2021.#IamUWC pic.twitter.com/T4aqLurc8x
— #IamUWC (@UWConline) March 1, 2021
In a statement, Rector Professor Tyrone Pretorius noted that due to the unfathomable economic carnage brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be understood that “many families find themselves in economic difficulties during this time.”
“The University understands the difficulties many students are experiencing and have decided to financially clear all students to allow them to register,” Prof Pretorius announced.
This, the tertiary hopes, will grant families a great deal of alleviation and boost registration numbers for this academic year. Understanding that nothing on this green earth is free, UWC explained that, in essence, the registration amount won’t be stripped from the student’s debt.
“All students will have their registration fee addedto their tuition account and the upfront payment will be waived, allowing for immediate registration,” Pretorius explained.
Debt-owing students will have until mid-April 2021 to sign an Acknowledgment of Debt agreement that basically ties them to the credit until it’s ben cleared.
Moreover, all students who register for free will be expected to present to the tertiary, a payment plan “in respect of their student debt by mid-April 2021.”
Wits fees protests continue to escalate
On the other side of the country, at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), tensions have risen between EFF student representatives and the tertiary.
On Thursday, after a stalemate in reaching consensus on the issue of debt clearances, students picketed outside the campus, blocking entry to its main gateway.
Riot police were called to the scene and at the time this article was published, the stand-off was still palpable.
Wits called police on us, but we remain resolute on our fight for free, Decolonized and quality education. Makunyiweni once ✊ #SizofundaNgenkani2021 #FreeEducationNow pic.twitter.com/sOv0fVqYU6
— Wits EFFSC (@WitsEFF) March 4, 2021