800 Wits students’ debt cleared
The students that received the help are all students who registered for discretionary funding, and passed with an average of 65% or higher.
Almost 800 Wits students had their student debt cleared recently, amounting to R63m collectively.
These are academically excellent students (undergraduate and postgraduate) who have passed with an average of 65% or higher, many of whom fall within the missing middle category, meaning students from middle class families who are unable to access the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), but they do not have the means to pay their fees in full. Of the 800 students, 336 will be able to graduate, now that their fees have been paid, whilst the remaining students will be able to register for the 2025 academic year.
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A fourth year Wits medical student, who wishes to remain anonymous, says: “I have been able to register successfully this year, thanks to the discretionary funding which has cleared my debt. It has provided much relief and I am now able to pay full attention to my studies. I would like to express my sincere and profound gratitude to all those who made this possible and I will forever be grateful for the difference you made in my life. I will always remember this moment with the deepest gratitude.”
Prof Zeblon Vilakazi said these are all students who registered for discretionary funding at Wits. “We established a portal to assist students, many of whom fall into the missing middle, so that we could link academically excellent students with potential individual and corporate donors.” He added that funding of students in the missing middle remains a challenge they remain committed to, working with all stakeholders, including the Student Representative Council (SRC), to help academically deserving students access higher education, as far as their resources allow.
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Despite this aid, there is still a need for further student support.
Wits dean of student affairs Jerome September said this initiative brings relief to some students who can progress with their studies, and graduate. “However, there are many more deserving students in need of support, and we are working with the SRC to continue fundraising for students.
“We call upon all people in the public and private sector to donate towards the Kobo yaThutho SRC Legacy Fund to help students access higher education, regardless of their financial background. This is a fundraising campaign and a call to action to assist our students to achieve their dreams,” said Wits SRC president Nombulelo Chiya.
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