Universities inundated with prospective students

The Sol Plaatje University in Kimberly says the president’s announcement on Free Higher Education is putting strain on its resources.

The university says it received over 2,300 but only has 700 spaces for new students. The Sol Plaatje University says they are accepting walk-in applications, but only those who meet the requirements will be accepted, and if there’s space.

Security in and around the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Wits has been beefed up as prospective students arrive to make applications and enquiries. Both universities have reiterated their stance that they will not allow walk-ins, despite the Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) Student Command threatening forced walk-in registrations.

At UJ, a scuffle broke out between campus security and some EFF student representatives who demanded that the gates be opened. Applicants were upset when told to go home without being helped.

In the Free State, hundreds of prospective students gathered at the Central University of Technology and University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein to register for the academic year.

Professor Nicky Morgan from UFS says the university encourages first timers to apply and register online to avoid long queues. She says they anticipated a large number for the year 2018.

Limpopo universities and TVET colleges are also experiencing a high turn-out of applicants.

The Economic Freedom Fighters is in their numbers at the University of Limpopo to ensure all students are accommodated. The institution is allowing walk-ins.

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