This is amidst the #FeesMustFall protests by students who are against the registration fee of R9000.
“All I want is for my child to register and pursue her studies because we worked hard to make sure she comes here, for her academic year,” says mme Ruth Mogatusi from Mahikeng.
Her 20 year old daughter Limpho, says at first she did not understand the fracas about the #FeesMustFall campaign until she came face to face it.
” I only read and heard about it until, I came face to face in reality with it on Monday,” she says shyly.
Asked if President JG Zuma was to ‘believed’ that “fees will not be increased this year” during the ANC 104 celebrations in Rustenburg over the weekend, Limpho said NSFAS should take the blame for all the hiccups not the President.
“However, we do believe what he said but it seems its going to take long before everything is resolved considering some students in other campuses in the country, are going through the same problem,” says Limpho who is registering for Law.
They both refused to be photographed.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande‚ confirmed that university students who meet the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) means tests will not be paid upfront when registering for the 2016 academic year.
He told a press briefing that his Department is committed to realising South Africans’ right to Higher Education and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
“We have resolved the 0% fee increment for 2016 with universities‚ which amounted to R2.33 billion. Government has committed an additional R6.912 billion funding to support university education in the system…Government has also reprioritised R2.543 billion of State funding in the 2016/17 financial year to be allocated to NSFAS.
“University students who meet the NSFAS means test will not pay upfront payments when registering for the 2016 academic year.”
In 2016‚ South Africa’s public universities will provide access to approximately 212‚472 new entrants‚ he said.
Nzimande said NSFAS will fund 205‚000 first-time entering and continuing students at universities and 200‚000 students at TVET colleges. Skills Education Training Authorities (SETAs) will provide 51‚835 learning programme opportunities.
NSFAS has been allocated over R700 million for full bursaries for scarce and critical skills for the current year‚ the minister said.
He added NSFAS has earmarked R72.9 million in the 2016 academic year to provide financial aid to disabled students in universities.
Learners looking for spaces in the university education system can contact the toll free call centre on 0800 356 635‚ the minister said.
