MAKHANDA – Academic activities at Rhodes University have been disrupted amid growing tensions between student leaders and management over a new fee payment protocol.

The dispute centres on the university’s 2027 Protocol on the Payment of Student Fees, approved by the university council.

The new protocol requires self-funded undergraduate students who have outstanding debt to pay at least 50% of what they owe before they can register. They must also sign an acknowledgement of debt and commit to paying at least R3,000 a month towards the remaining balance.

According to university management, student debt has reached R853 million. The university says the protocol is necessary to address outstanding debt and protect its long-term financial sustainability.

Students challenge fee debt requirements

The university’s Student Representative Council (SRC) announced the suspension of the academic programme in a statement issued on 29 September, saying its concerns and demands had not been adequately addressed.

SRC Secretary-General Keketso Dibakwane said students had met with senior management to discuss their concerns and demands but remained dissatisfied with the responses.

“Unfortunately, as students, we remain concerned that the responses did not adequately address the substantive issues raised by the student body, nor did they show sufficient movement toward a meaningful resolution,” the statement read.

The SRC said executive management had failed to reassure students that their demands would be taken seriously and that feedback would be provided timeously, despite student leaders submitting and reading a memorandum of demands.

“The academic project is suspended until management can adequately bring students into confidence and a way forward with timelines can be implemented,” the statement read.

The SRC also stressed that protest action must remain peaceful and lawful.

“Violence, intimidation, vandalism, destruction of property, or any reckless or dangerous conduct will not be permitted,” the statement said.

University warns of impact on campus services

In a statement dated 30 September, Rhodes University’s executive leadership expressed concern about the impact of the disruption on essential services required for students’ health, safety and wellbeing.

The university said it had repeatedly appealed to the SRC to allow essential-services staff access to the campus and residences.

These services include preparing and serving meals, cleaning student residences and providing water.

“Despite these appeals, the University has not been able to secure the necessary access for these essential services to continue,” the statement read.

The university said the disruption had also affected water tankers attempting to replenish campus supplies, describing this as a serious concern for students living in residences.

It said it recognised students’ right to raise concerns and engage with the institution, but warned that the continued disruption of essential services was placing students and staff in an increasingly concerning situation.

The university said it would continue engaging with student leadership through the appropriate institutional processes to find a constructive and sustainable way forward.

Speaking to PE Express on 30 September, representatives of both the SRC and university management declined to comment further on the matter.

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