MAKHANDA - Rhodes University has obtained an interim court order to halt student protests in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, after three days of demonstrations over changes to its 2027 student fees protocol.
The protests resembled Fees Must Fall demonstrations. Students warned that restricting access to education could fuel wider unrest. No injuries were reported during the demonstrations.
The dispute followed the University council’s announcement that undergraduates with historic debt would be required to pay 50% of what they owe. Students still seeking loans would need to arrange payment in instalments.
Protesting students said the changes could prevent those unable to repay their debt from continuing their studies next year. Rhodes University management said the policy is intended to strengthen the institution’s financial sustainability, not to exclude students with outstanding debt.
The University sought an interim order from the Makhanda High Court.
The dispute comes amid a wider student debt crisis around the country. It has been reported that historical debt across South Africa’s post-school education sector has reached R59 billion, leaving about 165,000.
The figures highlight how unpaid fees can affect students long after they leave campus, including by preventing some graduates from obtaining qualifications they may need when seeking work.