Embattled Walter Sisulu University failed to meet its first-year intake target and will have R17-million docked from its state subsidy.
The money was cut from the university budget by Minister Blade Nzimande’s Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) last year.
However, it remained unclear yesterday if the university would lose the money this financial year or next.
DHET acting deputy director-general for universities, Dr Diane Parker, said the department was bound by Treasury regulations not to discuss the budgets of universities until after the Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene had delivered his budget vote speech on February 25.
“We have not published any of the information as yet.
“Only universities have received their allocations and have been requested not to share them publicly until after the budget vote speech,” Parker said.
Details of the amounts were revealed in a memo compiled by WSU interim vice-chancellor Khaya Mfenyana setting out the details of a deal reached between management and students last week.
The deal followed pressure from students for management to increase the first-year student intake this year.
Yesterday, WSU indicated that they would be responding to questions today.
Mfenyana said Nzimande’s department had penalised the university for falling short by 2800 first year students.
Students demanded a 5% increase in the first year intake.
“The enrolment quotas setting process is a regulated process. Any deviation from set targets invokes penalties from DHET amounting to millions of rands.
“These penalties amounted to about R17-million last year as the institution fell short by 2800 students.”
Mfenyana said the enrolment plan agreed to by the university and the DHET allowed for a 1% growth in “designated categories”.
He did not explain what these categories were.
Mfenyana said: “The office of the deputy vice-chancellor is mandated to ensure all first-time entry quotas are met.
“To this effect, departments are reporting weekly on their intake to ensure that we adhere to the set quotas,” Mfenyana said.
The recent pressure from students follows a report compiled by Professor Daniel Ncayiyana in 2012 to look at student militancy.
Ncayiyana was appointed by Nzimande to assess the university before Professor Lourens van Staden took over as the administrator of the university.
In his report, Ncayiyana decried the militant nature of student politics at WSU.
However, students have vowed to continue with their protests even if it entailed “militant” behaviour.
SA Students’ Congress WSU branch chairman Lamla Sajini said: “The students do not have the money to pay these debts.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Nzimande cuts WSU funding
The money was cut from the university budget by Minister Blade Nzimande’s Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) last year.
However, it remained unclear yesterday if the university would lose the money this financial year or next.
DHET acting deputy director-general for universities, Dr Diane Parker, said the department was bound by Treasury regulations not to discuss the budgets of universities until after the Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene had delivered his budget vote speech on February 25.
“We have not published any of the information as yet.
“Only universities have received their allocations and have been requested not to share them publicly until after the budget vote speech,” Parker said.
Details of the amounts were revealed in a memo compiled by WSU interim vice-chancellor Khaya Mfenyana setting out the details of a deal reached between management and students last week.
The deal followed pressure from students for management to increase the first-year student intake this year.
Yesterday, WSU indicated that they would be responding to questions today.
Mfenyana said Nzimande’s department had penalised the university for falling short by 2800 first year students.
Students demanded a 5% increase in the first year intake.
“The enrolment quotas setting process is a regulated process. Any deviation from set targets invokes penalties from DHET amounting to millions of rands.
“These penalties amounted to about R17-million last year as the institution fell short by 2800 students.”
Mfenyana said the enrolment plan agreed to by the university and the DHET allowed for a 1% growth in “designated categories”.
He did not explain what these categories were.
Mfenyana said: “The office of the deputy vice-chancellor is mandated to ensure all first-time entry quotas are met.
“To this effect, departments are reporting weekly on their intake to ensure that we adhere to the set quotas,” Mfenyana said.
The recent pressure from students follows a report compiled by Professor Daniel Ncayiyana in 2012 to look at student militancy.
Ncayiyana was appointed by Nzimande to assess the university before Professor Lourens van Staden took over as the administrator of the university.
In his report, Ncayiyana decried the militant nature of student politics at WSU.
However, students have vowed to continue with their protests even if it entailed “militant” behaviour.
SA Students’ Congress WSU branch chairman Lamla Sajini said: “The students do not have the money to pay these debts.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos