Students at Rods University gathered on the Makhand campus premises on Monday evening, and on Tuesday they blocked university entrances in protest against Protocol 2027 concerning student fee payments.
The students who obstructed the path on the Makhand campus on Tuesday due to the new student debt repayment plan are forced to wait until December when the university council will review their demands.
The protest was directed against Protocol 2027 on student fee payment, which the council approved to address the issue of unpaid student debts and ensure the university's long-term financial stability.
The Students Representative Council (SRC) and student representatives presented their objections to this protocol to the university management on Monday evening.
A representative of Rods University, Olwetu Gwanya, confirmed that the next council meeting will take place in December and stated that the council will consider the students' concerns, rather than simply approving the protocol.
Gwanya told IOL: 'The concerns they are raising must be discussed and agreed upon or approved by the council.' She added that the university management cannot make decisions overnight since the meeting with the SRC and students took place the day before. She also noted: 'It is very regrettable that the students could not wait for the council's decision.'
Gwanya clarified that this protocol applies to students who pay their fees independently, and not to those funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
She emphasized that the protocol is a way through which the university commits to assisting students who cannot afford the fees. Furthermore, she mentioned the NSFAS issue, which has left many students in an uncertain position regarding bill payments.
Gwanya reported that entrances were still blocked on Tuesday, but there was no disorder or chaos on campus. Staff who could work remotely were instructed to do so, while essential personnel were able to reach the campus.
The university also postponed the memorial service for its former registrar, Professor Adel Mudli, to an unspecified date.
In social media, a message circulated among students claiming that the protocol requires students to repay 50% of their outstanding debt by the end of October, and an initial payment of over R30,000 by January 15, 2027, otherwise they will not be allowed to return next year. It was also claimed that accommodation fees would increase to approximately R100,000 per year.
The Rods University accommodation fee schedule seen by IOL indicates that the cost of accommodation is R92,851 and R97,482 per year. Previously, in August, the parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education heard that NSFAS limits accommodation funding to up to R52,000 per year for students in metropolitan areas and around R43,000 for students elsewhere.