A decade after the nationwide Fees Must Fall protests that aimed for affordable quality tertiary education, South Africa finds itself back at square one as students struggle to settle their fees and pay for this upcoming year’s registration.
The Fees Must Fall protests was a student-led movement that sought to address the obvious issue of the lack of access to affordable quality tertiary education for a significant population in South Africa. These protests took place over the span of two years; 2015-2016. This saw the South African government making means to ensure that as many students are granted access to education as possible, including turning the NSFAS loan into a bursary that students would not have to pay back.
According to some internet users, measures such as these only addressed the issue short term, instead of the long term, which has resulted in the movement heading back to square one, as there has been an increase in the number of students seeking financial aid from their followers and mutuals on social media.
As a means to provide sustainable solutions, the Wits SRC has emerged with the Kobo ya Thuto Legacy Fund, as a way to help their students get access to the education they deserve.
According to the Wits SRC president Nombulelo Chiya, the main aim of this fund is to ensure that students even in the future will be assisted when needed. Furthermore, she notes that the issue of student debt is not only a Wits issue, but a country-wide issue that also needs to be addressed. She reveals that the fund is more of a call for action, and will be matched by the SRC.
“When we reach the R15 million goal, it will be matched halfway, amounting to R30 million,” she says.
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This initiative has touched the hearts of many internet users who believe that ideas like these are what the youth needs to empower themselves, instead of waiting for help that will never come. Others have inquired about how to make a donation, and are ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.
How can I donate?
— Sizolwethu Sithole (@xolaniert) January 16, 2025
Also see: Pearl Thusi slammed after reportedly failing to pay promised school fees
