À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥ debt cleared for 800 Wits students

30 January 2025 - Wits University

Christmas came early for almost 800 talented Wits students who had their student debt cleared this week, amounting to R63 million collectively.

These are academically excellent students (undergraduate and postgraduate) who have passed with an average of 65% or higher, many of whom fall into the missing middle category, and who 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.

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.”

This is just one of almost 800 students who will benefit from this generous funding.

“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,” says Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi. “The funding of students in the missing middle remains a challenge and we remain committed to working with all stakeholders, including the SRC, to help academically deserving students access higher education, as far as our resources allow.”

Despite this boon, there is still a need for further student support.

The Wits Dean of À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥ Affairs, Jerome September says: “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.”

The Wits SRC President Nombulelo Chiya says: “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.” 

FACT SHEET

There are several ways in which Wits assists students:

Financial Support

• In 2024, Wits disbursed over 1.79 billion in student financial aid, scholarships and bursaries which assisted 26 099 students, of which:
  • NSFAS (R942 million) helped 9 106 students,
  • The Wits Council committed R180 million for undergraduate and postgraduate students,
  • The Wits Hardship Fund (R25.5 million) assisted 901 students with registration and emergency accommodation costs, and
  • 6 million was allocated to match the SRC’s fundraising efforts, which helped190 students.
• There is a 0% increase in residence fees in 2025, aside from at one of Wits’ 19 residences, with student fees increasing at the rate of inflation,
• Postgraduate students benefit from funding through the Postgraduate Merit Award, research councils and entities like the National Research Foundation, and through several academic programmes including WESAF, Afretec, CARTA and ARUA.

Academic Support

• The ten-day Gateway to Success academic and student life orientation programme helps to integrate first years into academic and student life, and includes teaching digital skills, ethics courses, and exposure to Wits’ 30 sports clubs and societies,
• The First-Year Experience Mentorship Programme sees first year students assigned a trained senior student mentor to help navigate their first year at Wits,
• The Postgraduate À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥ Orientation Programme provides postgraduate students with a sense of the academic expectations and support available, builds postgraduate networks and fosters a sense of community,
• The Co-Curricular Transcript Programme recognises students' contributions and learning outside the classroom, including participation in student leadership, mentorship, social justice, mental health, and entrepreneurship,
• The Wits À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥ Entrepreneurship Hub fosters student-led innovation and entrepreneurship in collaboration with the Small Enterprise Development Agency and as part of the À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥ Entrepreneurship Education and Development programme, and
• All Wits faculties have dedicated academic support units that offer tailored programmes to assist students throughout the year.

À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥ Support

• The Campus Health and Wellness Centre delivers high-quality primary healthcare services to the student community. It serves about 10 000 students annually, delivering quality, affordable, youth-friendly healthcare services, including mental health support. À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥s have access to 24-hour medical emergency helplines and apps, peer support, and access to healthcare professionals,
• The Wits Citizenship Community Outreach assists with short-term emergency accommodation and provides 1 000 hot meals per day through the Masidleni project. This is in addition to the food bank that collates and distributes food parcels every month,
• The End Period Poverty Campaign in partnership with the Clicks Foundation, sees over 1 000 students provided with access to sanitary products every month, in addition to free sanitary towels in dispensers in some female toilets across campus,
• The Counselling and Careers Counselling Development Unit provides professional mental health services to Wits students. These include individual and group therapy sessions, advocacy and mental health awareness campaigns, and peer support initiatives. À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥s also have access to a 24-hour mental health helpline and app. The unit also offers career support through individual development sessions, workshops, and presentations, as well as a À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥ Employment Portal for internships and part-time employment. It hosts career fairs (in which over 100 companies participate) and connects students to potential employers,
• Wits provides students with access to loan laptops via the Loan Device Bank for those who require it, on a case-by-case basis,
• Wits residence students have access to residence based support and development programmes through wardens, in the form of Wits academic and professional and administrative staff who are appointed to ensure care afterhours, support and development. They work with house committees and peer assistants to help students. Wits residences are further equipped with study areas, 24-hour internet services, and back-up power to ensure to uninterrupted learning and living conditions, and
• À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥ bus services connecting students to various campuses and residences, as well as to recreational and shopping hubs like Rosebank.

Social Justice Cluster

• The Gender Equity Office provides a safe and confidential space with full-time counselling support for complainants and victims of Gender Based Harm, oversees an independent disciplinary procedure for formal complaints against staff or students accused of Gender Based Harm, and engages actively in advocacy around gender equality on our campus,
• The Disability Rights Unit strives to create an equal, accessible and welcoming environment for students and staff with disabilities, to ensure reasonable accommodation in academic and non-academic programmes, and to create awareness of the abilities of people with disabilities, and
• The Transformation Office has several programmes and projects and works with students to further the transformation agenda.