Mbabane - It never rains but it pours for the cash-strapped University of Swaziland as it has once again postponed opening for the second semester owing to shortage of funds.

The government of Swaziland, which is grappling with a financial crisis, has failed yet again to give the university enough money to run the institution.

The university was scheduled to open next Tuesday but Registrar Sipho Vilakati has confirmed that this will not happen.

The institution needs 22 million emalangeni (about R21 million) a month for administrative, maintenance and salary costs.

The university's Senate met very late on Friday and decided to postpone the opening of the second semester.

The academic year 2011/2012 has already been disrupted as the university postponed opening last August after the government failed to come up with 80 million for administration and other costs.

“Following careful consideration of all factors required to make the smooth operations of the university possible, the Senate resolved to postpone the commencement of the second semester until further notice,” he said in a brief statement.

Vilakati apologised to students, staff and all other stakeholders on the latest disappointing developments.

The University of Swaziland is the country's only university. It has three campuses and a combined student population of about 7,000. To operate the university relies on revenue from the government as well as its own independant initiatives.

Making matters worse is that the institution has also not released results for first semester examinations taken in December. First year students have also not received their allowances from the government.

Student Representative Council Chairperson Sibusiso Nhlabatsi has reacted with shock and disappointment at these latest developments. He promised they would do all in their power to force the university to open and the government to hand out allowances to first year students. - Sapa-AFP