The Onset of Protests at Wits and Sol Plaatje University

In early February 2026, tensions boiled over at two prominent South African universities: the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg and Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley. Students at both institutions took to the streets, blocking entrances and disrupting campus activities to demand urgent action on National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding delays and relief from crippling historical debts. These protests, echoing the #FeesMustFall movement of a decade earlier, highlighted systemic failures in student financial support amid rising enrollment pressures and economic hardships.

At Wits, demonstrations began around February 17, escalating by February 20 when hundreds gathered in Braamfontein and Parktown, chanting 'We'd rather die than go home' to underscore their desperation. Similarly, SPU students protested on February 16 over unpaid allowances, temporarily halting classes before agreeing to return pending payment promises. These events were not isolated but part of a nationwide wave affecting institutions like the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Stellenbosch University (SU).

What is NSFAS and How Does It Work?

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a South African government initiative established in 1991 to provide financial assistance—primarily bursaries and loans—to eligible students from low-income households pursuing higher education at public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Eligibility hinges on household income below R350,000 annually, academic performance, and South African citizenship. The process involves online applications from September, document verification, academic progression checks for continuing students, and disbursements covering tuition, accommodation up to R52,000 per year, living allowances, and books.

Step-by-step: 1) Apply via NSFAS portal; 2) Universities submit registration data; 3) NSFAS verifies and approves; 4) Funds disbursed directly to institutions and students. However, delays often occur due to late data submission, verification backlogs, and academic exclusions—189,000 students failed promotion criteria for 2026. This year, NSFAS approved 1.24 million students (692,704 first-time entrants and 550,959 continuing), disbursing over R6.3 billion by early March, yet over 100,000 appeals flooded the system.

Inside the Wits University Protests: Demands and Disruptions

Wits, one of South Africa's top research universities, saw its Braamfontein campus grind to a halt as students blocked the Yale Road North entrance on Empire Road. Protesters decried financial exclusion policies barring registration for those with debts exceeding the R55,000 hardship fund threshold. Many faced historical debts from prior years—accumulated due to NSFAS defunding after parental job losses or administrative errors—preventing them from paying the required 50% upfront or R10,000 registration fee.

• Immediate registration for all students, ignoring academic or debt barriers.
• Two-week registration extension.
• Lifting suspensions of 14 SRC members for 45 days.
• Capping residence fees at NSFAS's R52,000 annual limit (vs. university's R55,000+).
• Clearing backlogs and addressing NSFAS delays.

Student leader Zwelimangele Volsaka captured the anguish: 'Our conscience will not allow other black students to suffer... We'd rather die in the streets of Braamfontein than be deprived of an education.' By day five, Empire Road remained barricaded, with thousands still unregistered a month into the academic year.

Sol Plaatje University's Battle with NSFAS Payment Delays

In Kimberley, Northern Cape, SPU—a younger institution founded in 2014—faced parallel woes. Around 250 students protested unpaid NSFAS allowances on February 16, citing late university-submitted registration data for 2025 spilling into 2026 issues. Demonstrations disrupted classes, with two students injured, but were paused after management pledged prioritized payments starting with NSFAS recipients, followed by other bursaries. Late appeals were fast-tracked by Wednesday's close.

This reflects recurring NSFAS failures at SPU, where administrative lags left students with outstanding fees, risking eviction and dropout. The SRC emphasized no exclusions due to financial or admin barriers.Explore higher education opportunities in Kimberley.

Root Causes: Historical Debt, Delays, and Accommodation Crunch

Historical debt plagues SA universities: NSFAS owes institutions billions from past cycles, while students accumulate arrears from underfunded allowances. At Wits, debts over R100,000 exceed relief funds. NSFAS's R54.3 billion 2026 budget strains under 500,000 unplaced qualified applicants annually. Accommodation shortages—one bed per 33 students—exacerbate costs, with providers evicting over unpaid NSFAS invoices.

Cultural context: Post-apartheid, NSFAS expanded access, but corruption scandals (e.g., 2024 audits) and verification bottlenecks fuel distrust. For rural students like those from Eastern Cape at Wits, returning home means abandoning dreams amid poverty.Visit NSFAS for application updates.

The Scale of the Crisis: Key Statistics and Trends

NSFAS's 2026 cycle reveals stark figures:

• 1.24 million approved students; R6.3bn disbursed by March 2 (second wave R2.8bn).
• 100,000+ appeals pending (deadline March 31).
• 189,000 excluded for poor academics.
• R14bn projected shortfall; universities owe NSFAS R11.94bn historically.
• Over 500,000 qualified matriculants rejected yearly due to capacity.

Government spending hit 21% of budget in 2024/25, yet slowdown post-five-year rise signals strain. Protests signal deeper issues: 40% dropout rates linked to funding gaps.

Responses from Universities, NSFAS, and Government

Wits allocated R26m (R20m WRAF + R6m SRC fund) for case-by-case aid, extending registration and allowing debt-owing NSFAS students if criteria met. SPU prioritized allowances. NSFAS committed to mop-up payments, concluding 2026 decisions by January, with ongoing disbursements. Minister Buti Manamela announced short-term stabilizations and missing-middle reforms. Higher Education Department urged non-violent engagement.Higher ed career advice for navigating funding challenges.

Critics like DA demand NSFAS timelines; unions highlight governance failures over discipline.

Voices from the Ground: Students, Experts, and Stakeholders

Students view protests as last resorts: EFF's Lebo Sebolao called Wits 'ignorant.' Experts note systems failure—delayed verifications, unaccredited housing. Universities defend policies for sustainability; government points to R54bn allocation as progress. Balanced view: Protests spotlight inequities, but violence risks alienate support.

Broader Impacts: On Students, Campuses, and the Economy

Protests disrupted lectures, suspended leaders, heightened security. Long-term: Dropout spikes erode workforce skills; SA's youth unemployment (45%+) worsens. Economic ripple: Uneducated graduates strain social grants. Positive: Spotlights reforms, like predictive AI for dropouts.

Pathways Forward: Solutions and Reforms

• Streamline NSFAS verification with digital tools.
• Expand missing-middle funding (household R350k-R750k).
• Public-private partnerships for accommodation (500k beds needed).
• Debt relief caps indexed to inflation.
• Alignment with labor market via TVET-university collaborations.

Government's medium-term plan includes sustainable models; explore scholarships and higher ed jobs for alternatives.

Photo by Barbara Zandoval on Unsplash

Looking Ahead: 2026 Academic Year and Beyond

As appeals resolve by late March, stability beckons, but unresolved shortfalls loom for 2027. Proactive measures—like Wits' funds—offer models. For students, resilience via rate my professor and career advice can bridge gaps. South Africa's higher education must evolve to honor post-apartheid promises.

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