'Selfish and inconsiderate' #FeesMustFall students disrupt registration at Wits

11 January 2016 - 13:56 By Katharine Child

Students from the independent #FeesMustFall movement disrupted the first day of registration at Wits University by preventing the fees office from opening. Registration was taking place on West Campus‚ but this too has been stopped by the protesters.The issue appeared to be about students with outstanding debts not being allowed to register.Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel said the university announced it was not requiring upfront registration fees in January. Instead‚ students who could not afford to register had to pay R9000 by the end of March or approach the university for assistance.Despite this concession‚ students from #FeesMustFall were intent on continuing their protest in Wits Senate House‚ renamed Solomon Mahlangu House‚ with spokesperson for the movement Fatima Moutloatse saying: "The ultimate goal of the protest was free education".She said they wanted students who owed outstanding fees from last year to be permitted to register."In 1994‚ government promised us access to free education. It is 22 years later and this has not happened. Education must not be seen as a commodity."The Wits SRC was not visible at the protest‚ and is a separate group from the #FeesMustFall group. The SRC and #FeesMustFall group representatives were to meet later on Monday.One student who needed to access the fees office to find out if she had a place at the university‚ as she is on a waiting list‚ was furious. The student‚ who asked not to be named‚ said she was being denied access to education by protesting students. "How can I get education if they stop me?""I think it is selfish and inconsiderate‚" she said. "I want to come to Wits and learn."A father‚ Augustine Magik‚ who had taken the day off work to help his daughter register‚ said the closure of the fee office was very stressful. "I have taken the day off work. Who is going to give me another day off work?"Wits students without outstanding debt can register online‚ but one student said she was having difficulty online and needed to access the fees office‚ which remains closed.- TMG Digital/The Times..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.