“The Value of UCT Decreased”: Mzansi Calls Out Students Protesting Against Financial Blocks
- Over 600 UCT students started protesting against financial blocks on Monday morning
- The scholars marched from the university’s main campus, blocking several entrances and disturbing lectures
- Some South Africans were against the protest and shared their thoughts in a thread of comments on TikTok
- Three students from UCT chatted to Briefly News about their debilitating experience of being financially excluded
The University of Cape Town is South Africa’s most prestigious higher education institution.
Source: Getty Images
Many well-known scholars are products of UCT known to only accept students with exceptional academic achievements.
Mzansi calls out students protesting against financial blocks
South Africa’s most prestigious university has been making headlines since Monday. The University of Cape Town has agitated their students after academically excluding them in the new academic year.
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Over 600 students marched from the main campus in Rondebosch to protest against financial exclusion, student debt and accommodation. All races came together to fight the institution by blocking entrances to the university and distributing online classes.
Although South Africans were moved by the unity of young people, some were outraged by how the scholars decreased the value of the university. The “privileged” individuals refused to understand why the students protested instead of accepting their situation.
Other institutions like the Cape Peninsula University of Technology faced similar challenges where their students slept in front of their campuses for two weeks amid accommodations issues and NSFAS funding. In the midst of criticism online, UCT students continued their fight a decade after the Fees Must Fall movement in 2015, calling for affordable and decolonised education.
Watch the TikTok video below:
UCT students share experience of being financially excluded
UCT students started protesting against financial exclusion on Monday where over 600 students marched from the main campus in Rondebosch. Three students shared their experiences with Briefly News.
Isemihle started her academic journey at UCT in 2024. The scholar returned to school mid February only to sleep at the SRC office:
“I phoned the SRC president Thando Lukhele, and we made our way to the Steve Biko offices to commence my 23 day and counting journey there. The first couple of nights I couldn't sleep. I couldn't believe that I was without housing. No let me rephrase, I couldn't believe that I was one of the affected students without housing and life continued. Time still passed. The sun rose and set. Orientation came and went. There were two different worlds on campus.
“The day before school, 16th of February 2025, came and I thought our pleas would've been heard by then. Something would've happened, surely. The only thing that ensued was protesting. I think that's when my breaking point overtook me. Because remember we were protesting but we were still residing in offices, it almost felt like a paradox.
“My fight didn't end when the protest ended that day. It continued throughout the night and lingered during the morning. All while visiting offices and pleading with officials. I felt less than. I felt so unseen. Unimportant. Disposable. Financial aid was probably sick of seeing me. NSFAS, repulsed. I can never look at this city the same. My nativity has been successfully taken away. I still pray for resilience, for mercy, for humanity.
“I'll carry this story with me and use it to further embed myself in my social work degree. It'll drive the humanitarian work that awaits me. It'll allow me to speak from a point of departure of knowing. Though deeply triggering, I've learned a lot.”
Zintle, who was a part of the protest was sickened by those who chose quiet while many marched for affordable education:
“The most painful thing is seeing black students sleeping in SRC offices because of the housing crisis and financial exclusion, it is dehumanising. No one should have to endure such conditions just to access education. The reality is that even white people’s dogs live in better conditions than our black students sleeping in those SRC offices.
"Despite this, the solidarity among students has been inspiring. We have shown up and showed out in numbers, and it’s clear that this fight is not just about individuals—it’s a collective demand for change. I remain hopeful that there will be progress, particularly in lifting the fee block so that students can register, secure proper housing, and continue their studies with dignity. It has been ten years since Fees Must Fall, and we will continue to fight.”
Another UCT student, Khanyisa, who was not affected by the financial exclusion shared the importance of being a part of the fight:
“As a black student who is funded by NSFAS, I felt like it was very important for me to be part of the protest because it could also be me next year.
“Although I was able to register and get accommodation it didn’t mean that I should sit in my room whilst there’s other students who can’t even sleep on a bed at night. Standing in solidarity with students financially excluded really means a lot to me.
"The UCT SRC has greatly encouraged us to fight for our education and support each other through difficult times. Students that are showing no support of the matter have really shown where they stand. They have shown no shame and that they don’t have the slightest care of how other students are affected and are failed by the system.
“Them continuing with attending classes with what we are trying to achieve or rather the message we are trying to send to the University. That no student should be left behind!”
Mzansi calls out UCT students protesting against financial blocks
Social media users were not impressed by the ongoing UCT protest:
Source: Getty Images
@therealnoobmaster69 commented:
“I have no sympathy with these people. I also struggle with finances, but I got a full-time job, and now I'm doing distance learning. Much easier for me too to go and protest for handouts.”
@Anexa asked:
“You do realise that if they would scrap the fees owed for last year or sequence every year, then they will eventually keep increasing the fee cost to make up for the lost money?”
@𝓫𝓾𝓱𝓵𝓮_𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼🌹replied:
“Trust me, they definitely can afford it. The number of matrics that are going to register at universities, not just UCT, that require registration fees is a lot, and many still get rejected. Come on now!”
@leonie.ferreira said:
“How is it possible that so many passed with matric exemption? I'm not paying for anyone's varsity fees, sorry. That's for the parent's bill or go work part-time!”
@Felix jones said:
“There isn't enough place, simple.”
@Nando Fabio shared:
“Protests numbers are huge while graduates numbers are small.”
@siya commented:
“The value of UCT has decreased.”
3 More university-related stories by Briefly News
- Registered Cape Peninsula University of Technology scholars have been sleeping outside their campuses amid accommodation issues
- Students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology shared their experience amid the chaotic beginning of the school year
- South Africans shared their thoughts on a mother who rejoiced after her daughter got rejected by the University of Johannesburg
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Source: Briefly News
