Wits University vice chancellor Zeblon Vilakazi has called for an 'urgent national debate' on the fees crisis faced by many of the country's universities.
Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, Vilakazi said the university was sitting at about R1bn in student debt.
“The university is owed about R1bn of student debts and we should be all be aware that VC [vice chancellor] come and go just as well as students, they come and go but we need to ensure the future of the next generation. The issue of historical debts is not a Wits crisis, but a national crisis and we cannot solve it alone,” he said.
He said the state and other social actors have a critical role to play in resolving this crisis.
“We need an urgent national debate on this crisis and our students need long-term definitive solutions to funding higher education. However, we remain committed to assisting as many academically talented students. We have to ensure that the university remains financially sustainable and that we continue to offer quality higher education,” he said.
Vilakazi said it was not true that the institution had financially excluded 8,000 students but the number referred to all the students who owe Wits money over the last seven years, including some of whom had dropped out and others who have been academically excluded for failing multiple times and who have lost their bursaries.
“Wits has registered 95% of its 2021 student cohort, including most first-years; also the registration dates have been extended. The university has repeatedly reached out to students and remain committed to engaging with students,” Vilakazi said.
Vilakazi said they had established a once off R10m vice chancellor’s Covid-19 student relief fund to assist students who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and also bridge the gap for students who are still waiting for National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
‘Wits remains committed to enabling access and to assisting students as far as possible within the resources that are available. We must keep the doors of learning open and remain financially sustainable,” Vilakazi said.
On speaking about the protest, Vilakazi said he was probably the first VC to be greeted with such a big protest.
Wits students have been protesting for more than 8,000 students with historical debts to be allowed to register.
He told the media that the institution never called police on students, adding that they had "no control of what happened outside the university".
“We had no injuries on campus and all our security members are not armed. Unfortunately, we have no control of what is happening outside the university as that is the responsibility of public order. I am sorry that someone was killed and I hope Independent Police Directorate will do their job,” he said.
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