“Always Up at Night Crying”: Student Shares Heartbreaking Reality of Res Fees Struggle

• A Walter Sisulu University student from Butterworth shared an emotional video revealing her struggle to afford residence accommodation at the NMD campus in Mthatha
• The second-year student's tearful confession highlights the financial challenges many students face, with residence fees reaching R43,800 annually at WSU's Mthatha campus
• The video resonates with many South African students who grapple with mounting costs of accommodation, groceries, and other living expenses that can total over R116,700 per year

A student's emotional video about being unable to afford residence accommodation has sparked conversations about the financial challenges facing South African students. Content creator @semihle01, a second-year student at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), shared her heartbreaking reality through tears in a TikTok video.

"I'm from Butterworth and I'm a returning student at the NMD campus in Mthatha, Walter Sisulu University. My res is located in Zimbane around Mtata," she explained in her caption, followed by the sad reality: "POV: You're always up at night crying because your mom can't afford to send you to res."

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Watch the TikTok video below.

The cost of dreams

Located in Zimbane around Mthatha, WSU's residence fees amount to R43,800 annually, excluding additional living expenses. For self-funded students, the university requires either a R15,000 deposit or 40% of the total amount for university-owned accommodation before registration.

According to recent student budget guidelines, students need approximately R9,725 monthly to cover basic living expenses, including R5,500 for rent, R2,300 for groceries, R525 for transport, R500 for data costs, and R1,000 for pocket money - totalling about R116,700 per year.

Supporting student success

WSU’s Student Residence Department is dedicated to students’ well-being, offering safe housing and support services. However, with high demand and limited space, not all applicants secure accommodation, leaving many, like @semihle01, struggling to find a place to stay.

Named after anti-apartheid activist Walter Sisulu, the university plays a vital role, focusing on urban renewal and rural development while providing educational opportunities to thousands of students.

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Other varsity student-related stories.

• Briefly News recently reported on a WITS student's remarkable room transformation showed creative solutions for residence living, but it was her budget-friendly approach that caught everyone's attention.
• A privileged first-year student's lavish residence move-in sparked discussions about inequality in student accommodation, revealing a striking contrast in university experiences.
• A luxurious student accommodation tour left many questioning the vast differences in living standards, with features that made typical res rooms seem basic in comparison.

Source: Briefly News