University of Pretoria SRC protests against financial exclusion

Students at the University of Pretoria have embarked on a protest against financial exclusion after hundreds of students, who owe the university, were prevented from registering.

The march, led by Student Representative Council (SRC),  is headed to the head offices of the department of higher education and training in Pretoria, where a memorandum of demands is expected to be handed over.

The protest comes a day after a 35-year-old man was killed in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, during a protest for similar reasons at Wits University.

In a post posted on their Facebook page, the SRC has accused the department of higher education and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) of having chosen "a criminal act of depriving students of education and meeting us with violence when we speak out."

"We, as students of the University of Pretoria, refuse to be victims of this injustice and blatant oppression of young people," the post stated.

University spokesperson Rikus Delport said in a statement that the university has tried to assist students who have been unable to register due to their applications to the NSFAS still not yet approved.

Delport said the university has since extended the registration deadline to March 31 "and undertaken that students will be able to register until the NSFAS issues have been resolved."

"We are engaging with first-year NSFAS students who have been provisionally accepted to prepare for their registration and eventual enrolment at UP," Delport said.

He added: "Messages have been sent requesting them to complete the pre-orientation and indicate whether they need internet-enabled devices, which will be funded from their book allowances," Delport said. 

He said the university has reduced the amounts that those who owe the university have to pay to be allowed to register in the 2021 academic year.

"For students who owe the University money in respect of prior years, the amount required to be paid before registration has been reduced from 50% to 40% of the outstanding balance. These students are required to enter into a financial arrangement for the remainder of the outstanding balance. This will only apply to the 2021 year," Delport said.