Health Department lets down bursary beneficiaries

The Gauteng Department of Health has left bursary beneficiaries in the lurch after not paying the 2013 fees on time.

Two Health Science pupils from the University Witwatersrand (Wits) Medical School are unable to enrol to study this year due to outstanding fees, something they’ve had to deal with for the past three years.

“I went to the department to enquire about the outstanding fees and upon complaining, the man who was assisting me said I should be grateful for the opportunity and not complain,” pupil Amogelang Baloyi said indignantly.

“They said they’ll pay by 18 December and they haven’t done so, which means I can’t move into my residence,” Baloyi added.

Baloyi’s colleague Nhlanhla Vilakazi said he would have to play catch-up by the time the department decides to pay their fees.

“I wasn’t able to register which means I have missed days of school already. And on top of that, whatever the amount they’ll be paying, I still have to match it with about R20 000 as well as buy text books,”Vilakazi revealed.

The department’s Aubrey Ditshego pointed fingers at the university for not submitting the required documents.

“Universities are supposed to submit invoices for the particular pupils before a certain time and if they don’t, then we aren’t able to pay the fees,” Ditshego said, despite the fact that this has been a persistent problem for both pupils.

With regards to pupils matching the bursary amount, Ditshego explained that the department provides them with a set amount and, depending on the course, some pupils might have to pay from their own pockets as their fees exceed the bursary funds.

Ditshego also mentioned that the department is working on a system to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

In the meantime, Baloyi and Vilakazi will have to wait for their fees to be paid before they can officially enrol for 2014.

Wits University was not available for comment at the time of print.