Johannesburg – The University of Witwatersrand (Wits) on Monday, announced that fees will increase by eight percent in 2017. "The Council of the University of the Witwatersrand confirmed an average increase of eight percent for tuition fees, residence fees and fees for international students. These increases are in line with the recommendations made by the state in September this year," Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel said. Patel said the decision on the 2017 fee increase was recommended by management and the Financial Committee (FinCo) of the University and approved by Council after consultation with the elected Students’ Representative Council (SRC).
The university has planned an increased despite the #FeesMustFall protests that caused unrest and turned violent.
The university said that it has no choice but to increase fees if it wanted to remain financially sustainable as academics and professional and administrative staff need to be remunerated, books and journals need to be purchased (many in foreign currency), utilities need to be paid and infrastructure needs to be maintained.
Patel said the University will accommodate the costs of the new information and communications technology (ICT) renewal project from 2017.
"It must also be noted that the state compensation for the zero percent increase for the 2016 academic year amounted to approximately R146 million. However, we have been recently informed that the 2016 fee increase will now be rolled into the subsidy, the net effect of which is that our subsidy increase for 2017 will be only 2.5 percent. This equates to a net decline in income of approximately R54 million for 2017 from the state," said Patel.
Patel said the university's council is aware that this decision will be financially onerous for families of many students.
"Note that the state has committed to funding the increase for all students with a family income of less than R600,000. Wits will, however, do all that it can to seek bursaries and scholarships for as many students as is possible," said Patel.