On 15 August, The University of Pretoria’s (UP) Student Representative Council (SRC) launched a boycott of ChooseUP Day, which took place on 16 August, in protest of the alleged increase of registration fees, with undergraduate fees set to become R11 000. The annual open day, meant to showcase the university to prospective students, went ahead under the cloud of student dissent, with some members of the EFFSC UP, who also serve on the SRC, actively protesting on the day.
This is not the first time UP has raised its registration fee, nor is it the first time students have resisted the fee hike. According to an article by IOL’s Betty Moleya, registration fees rose from R5 000 in 2022 to R7 500 in 2023, and then to R10 000 in 2024. At the time, the SRC was included in discussions around the increase. However, the current SRC maintains that this year’s decision was made without consultation, transparency, or consideration of student’s financial realities.
In their official statement on 15 August, the SRC described the move as “a blatant disregard for democratic governance” and announced the boycott under the banner “#ChooseUP@YourOwnRisk”. The SRC called on faculty houses, student committees, and other structures to join the action, pledging to “engage, challenge, and dispute” the increase once a meeting with the university’s Executive Management is secured. While the SRC has received confirmation that such a meeting will take place, no date has been finalised.
The backlash at UP comes amid a larger national trend of fee hikes. Earlier this year, The Citizen reported that universities across South Africa increased their registration fees in 2024: UJ rose from R3 870 to R5 560, UKZN went from R4 350 to R4 600, and NWU increased from R11 280 to R11 810, while Wits remained at R9 340.
PDBY interviewed a selection of students to get an insight into public opinion on this matter. One student, who asked to stay anonymous, said, “It is the duty of the university to ensure that all fees are reasonable in the context of today’s economic climate. Measures to seek financial relief must be accessible. It is of critical importance that all leadership bodies are consulted when drastic changes are made to fees.”
As the SRC prepares for their engagement with UP’s Executive Management, it was made clear that their boycott of ChooseUP Day was not only a symbolic gesture – it was a direct show of solidarity with students facing mounting financial strain.
Relebogile Manana