Hundreds of Wits students on hunger strike over registration delays

Hundreds of returning students at Wits University have gone on hunger strike until they are all registered.

The strike, now in its second day, will continue until these returning postgraduate students have their demands met.

It’s been a week since all South African Universities started the academic year. However, some returning students cannot register.

Unregistered students’ representative Feziwe Ndwayana says, “Returning students are more likely to remain unregistered, and a chunk of these are postgraduates… February registration closes.”

Wits University | Unregistered returning Wits students on hunger strike

Many of these students are burdened by financial constraints, such as financial exclusion, and do not qualify for scholarships or financial aid.

Wits SRC president Nombulelo Chiya says, “When you speak about these issues of financial exclusion, students who cannot afford, students who are sitting at home because they owe the university and have to pay 50% deposit.”

Earlier this year, the university said it had cleared students amounting to R63 million for 800 students.

Wits University’s Shirona Patel explains, “Over the past ten years, we’ve made great strides… one billion in funding.”

Despite health concerns, it’s unclear when the strike will be called off. For now, it’s just water for these students who are adamant they will only have their next meal when their demands have been met.