Wits SRC on hunger strike over student admissions

The SRC said the protest is meant to highlight the institution’s failure to accommodate academically deserving students during registration. 

They are demanding greater accountability and justice, saying there is a need to remove barriers that hinder access to education.

Speaking to Jacaranda FM News, Wits SRC Deputy President Boipelo Setsepu called for an increase in the university’s Hardship Bursary beds, which currently stand at only 330, to support more financially struggling students without accommodation.

"We want all students that are academically eligible to register regardless of how much they owe. The other thing we are demanding is an increase in the number of Hardship beds, as many students are sleeping in libraries. We have a lot of students without funding, so the bed allocation must increase from 330."

With the academic year fast approaching, the future of many self-funded students at Wits remains uncertain, as they are required to settle 50% of their outstanding fees before they can register.

On the fourth day of the hunger strike, Setsepu condemned the university’s policy, which permits NSFAS and privately funded students to register if they owe less than R130,000, while self-funded students must pay half of their debt upfront.

He confirmed that the hunger strike would continue until the university meets all the SRC’s demands.

"We plan on continuing the hunger strike until all students are able to register and are accommodated."

The SRC’s fundraising efforts managed to register 95% of students—37,295 in total—but fell short of their R30 million target, raising only R5 million. 

This left 1,963 students unable to enroll.

The SRC deputy president emphasised that the SRC members are willing to put their health on the line to ensure that all deserving students gain access to education.

"The purpose of the hunger strike is to show the university that we are willing to go to extreme lengths—even sacrificing our health—for students to register. We are prepared to endure hunger for days, even if it leads to fainting or hospitalisation. That is how serious we are."

Among other demands, the SRC is also pushing for Postgraduate Merit Award (PMA) bursary recipients to receive funding beyond their first year of postgraduate studies, in accordance with the bursary’s mandate.

The bursary currently covers only R50,000 of their tuition debt.

"The PMA covers a student’s tuition for their first postgraduate year, meaning they should be able to register. However, the university insists that they must first pay 50% of their outstanding fees before they can enroll, even though their tuition is already covered by the award."

ALSO READ