Student debt at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of Pretoria (UP) stands at almost R5-billion for the 2024 academic year alone. A total of 34 523 students owe Wits more than R2.5-billion, while 42 856 owe UP almost R2.4-billion.
These figures were revealed by the institutions as part of a written parliamentary response submitted by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande.
The minister was responding to a question by EFF member of parliament Vuyani Pambo, requesting the latest breakdown of the number of students who owe university fees and cannot graduate or receive their certificates because of the debt.
While most universities allowed for students to participate in the graduation ceremony but withheld their certificates, others do not allow them to graduate at all.
However, students are issued with letters indicating that they have achieved their qualifications and prospective employers are provided with the results on request.
Wits said on April 12 this year, 4 557 students responsible for a total debt of R299-million were unable to graduate and receive certificates.
The university said, however, NSFAS-funded students are allowed to graduate with the understanding the entity would settle the debt when close-out reports are finalised.
The total student debt owed by 55 199 Wits students in the past seven years to date amounts to R3.5-billion, Wits said.
Meanwhile, student debt at UP from last year and earlier years totals R424-million. The UP said it had 1 327 degrees in safe keeping of students who owe R47.5-million in fees. Only six universities – the Central University of Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Rhodes University, University of Limpopo, University of Fort Hare and University of South Africa – are yet to provide responses. Several other universities have disclosed debt amounting into the hundreds of millions of rands, including the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU).
At SMU, 5 606 who are self-funded students make up the highest amount of debt owed to the university. They owe the university R296-million. UCT said 2 368 South African students who registered last year owe the university more than R117-million, followed by students from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries at R5.6-million and students who have permanent residence status at a debt cost of R3.7-million. The total amount owed by 2 717 UCT students who registered in 2023 equals R128-million.
- Stellenbosch University: 9 615 students owe the university and 522 did not receive their graduation certificates at the December 2023 graduation ceremony.
- Tshwane University of Technology: 63 829 owe fees and 25 534 students cannot receive their certificates.
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology: 35 819 registered and 38 809 non-registered students owe the university fees.
- University of Western Cape: 307 students completed with a debt totalling R19.7-million last year.
- Nelson Mandela University: 40 839 owe fees and 5 76 cannot receive certificates.
- University of Zululand: 22 980 students owe fees.
- University of Free State: 39 974 students owed the university R851-million, and 887 did not receive their certificates.
- Walter Sisulu University: 73 617 students owe the varsity.
- Sol Plaatje University: 5 213 students owe the university R152-million. The university does not withhold certificates even when students owe fees.
- University of Johannesburg: 33 333 students have outstanding debt.
- North-West University: There are 58 711 students with outstanding balances from last year and this year.
- University of Venda: More than 21 896 students owe the university R623-million as of December last year.
- University of Mpumalanga: 4 397 students owe fees.
