A tense scene unfolded outside Rhodes University's graduation ceremony for master's and doctoral students in Makhanda, South Africa, on Friday morning. About 100 students protested against the university's new fee payment protocol, which requires students to pay all their debt before registering for the next year. Police responded by firing stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, resulting in the arrest of 13 students. The protest occurred despite a court interdict against protests at the university.
The university's new fee payment protocol has sparked significant controversy among students. Under the protocol, students who owe money will not be able to see their results and will only be informed about their eligibility for supplementary or aegrotat exams. Graduates who owe money can attend graduation but will not receive their degree certificates until the debt is paid, and their transcripts will not be sent to other universities. Students must either have NSFAS funding confirmed or secure a loan covering the full amount from a lender.
The Student Representative Council (SRC) described the gathering as a "silent protest" organized by an unidentified group of students. The SRC warned that the interim interdict remains in place and legally binds students to refrain from protest action. The council called on the police to consider the vulnerability of students and urged them to avoid violence. The SRC also asked students to contact them if anyone had been arrested or injured during the protest.
The university's management has stated that the protocol is part of measures to address outstanding student debt and maintain the university's financial sustainability. In 2024, the university reported that students owed R321-million. The university also stated that R43-million of student debt had built up in a single year due to caps on NSFAS funding. Rhodes University is not alone in this issue, as Universities South Africa recently reported that students owe universities R59-billion.
Students have objected to the protocol, citing concerns about its impact on their financial realities. A memorandum of demands handed over to the university outlined the students' concerns, stating that they are not against the university's pursuit of financial sustainability but believe a fair balance must be struck. Students want to stop the withholding of July and November results and for transcripts to be provided regardless of debt.
The SRC proposed a "sliding scale" for students who cannot pay off their debt, under which students owing less than R10,000 would pay 50% upfront, those owing R10,000 to R49,999 would pay 40%, and those owing R50,000 or more would pay 30%. One student expressed fear that her debt would prevent her from pursuing postgraduate studies, saying that students should be allowed to finish their studies and find work before they have to pay.
The university had previously shut down the campus on Tuesday due to protests, and the SRC committed to peaceful protest. The university obtained an interim interdict against the SRC president and other respondents, barring them from participating in unlawful activities on campus. The police were authorized to enforce the order, and the matter returns to court on 27 October.
Key points
- 13 students were arrested during the protest outside Rhodes University's graduation ceremony.
- The university's new fee payment protocol requires students to pay all their debt before registering for the next year.
- Students owe universities R59-billion in South Africa, according to Universities South Africa.
