Student registration impasse at UKZN resolved
Registration at the University of KwaZulu-Natal will now continue as normal following a meeting between Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu with university management led by Vice Chancellor Professor Nana Poku, the Student Representative Council, the South African Union of Students and UKZN Convocation.
Mshengu is the chair of a Task Team set up KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala last week in a bid to find a lasting solution over registration and other issues at UKZN wich has been plagued by unrest over the past three weeks.
Some of the decisions taken at the meeting between Mshengu, university management and student formations included that: all students who are NSFAS funded for the academic year 2020 but still owe the university will be cleared for registration and that a small team consisting of UKZN Convocation President, the SRC, Vice Chancellor or his delegate and a member of the Office of the Premier be established to determine the number of unfunded students whose family income falls within the threshold of R350 000 and below and how many of these students have honoured the acknowledgement of debt and how many have defaulted.
The team will also check the merits or demerits of each case; determine and advise on what is practical and financially feasible to assist students; draft a cost analysis to determine the amount of money required to assist affected students and develop a criteria to prioritise the different ways to provide financial assistance to affected students.
It was also agreed to look at the cases of students who owe the institution but are on their last year of study and that students from families with a combined annual income of more than R350 000 be required to pay at least 15% of their debt but such be capped at R10 000 for tuition only and at R15 000 if a student is registering for accommodation as well.
The provincial government has applauded the SRC and Convocation for their contributions of R4-million and R1-million, respectively, and urges all relevant stakeholders to also make contributions.
On accommodation, the meeting agreed with the resolution of the University Council that the process of registration must be allowed to unfold so that all spaces are occupied and a need for additional accommodation will then be determined once the numbers have been collated.
Premier Zikalala has applauded all parties for their commitment to resolve the impasse at UKZN and has reiterated his call that the academic programme needs to get underway at the institution.
The Premier has also urged students to desist from expressing their frustrations by protesting and damaging university property but rather opt for dialogue to resolve problems.
Enquiries:
Lennox Mabaso
KZN Provincial Government Spokesperson
Cell: 082 884 2403
Bongani Mthethwa
KZN Premier Media Liaison
Cell: 083 253 0748
