Thousands of students every year are unable to register at universities throughout the country, due to lack of finances. Over the past year students protested against university fee increases, a move that prompted the government not to increase fees for the 2017 academic year.
However, the fight for free education for all students continues. The University of the Free State Student Representative Council president and friends are on a mission to help deserving students to register next year, even if it means cycling for over 1 000 kilometres between Bloemfontein and Cape Town.
It is an epic eight-day cycle for students by students and an attempt to raise R2 million to help students register for the 2018 academic year.
The cyclists left Bloemfontein on Monday morning and are expected to arrive in Cape Town next week Monday. Money raised from the tour will help needy students.
“We find that in the beginning of the year around registration it is probably the hardest time students face. They come to this place with absolutely nothing, they need to register. This is why we are fund raising, we are riding from here (Bloemfontein) to Cape Town hoping to raise R2 million and we want to make a call to all, absolutely everyone to join us everything matters R20, R50 let us do it so, this why we are doing this and we are very excited,” says University of the Free State Student Representative Council president Asive Dlanjwa.
One of the riders Thulasozwe Mxenge says, “It is a great thing to be part of this thing, I’m really excited to be part of this to help students raise funds. So I’m looking forward to do this ride from Bloemfontein to Cape Town.”
The university has welcomed the move by student leadership to help those in need.
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