WSU aims to raise R114m

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) student leadership has entered into a deal to raise more than R114-million for needy students next year. 

This follows #FeesMustFall protests which erupted around the country late last year.

Project Mehato is an initiative between the WSU Student Representative Council (SRC), Pretune Technologies and Cell C. It was concluded last week.

WSU SRC president-general Buhle Noah-Tetyana said the project came at a time when “third stream” funding was needed to guard against funding shortfalls in higher education.

“When I became part of this project, I realised that this was the only way we could establish an SRC trust fund for WSU SRC,” he said.

Noah-Tetyana said there was a need to create viable, long-term solutions. He envisions the project will involve students, community, university staff, alumni and even government employees.

“It gives them options on how they would like to lend a hand in our efforts to raise funds for students – they can assist on a monthly basis through the SMS line or take one of the products made available by Cell C to directly assist this project.

“Remember, WSU is a university of hope, a university of poor people but rich in mind. All we want is education and if we sit and do nothing to ensure that they get education and so that they can be breadwinners in their home, it would mean we have failed to understand the cause of the revolution,” he said.

Pretune Technologies MD Hloni Theko said funds would be raised through an SMS line – 40010.

Cell C subscribers on prepaid contracts will also contribute through a deduction from their payments.

Attempts were made to get a comment from WSU, but a response had not been received at the time of writing.