Varsities dig deep for broke would-be students

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Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele, CEO of Higher Education SA, a statutory body representing higher education institutions, said universities were committing huge financial resources to support poor students.

The University of the Free State has set aside R48-million for first-year students.

Spokesman Lacea Loader said the university had an additional R200-million from other sources, including donors, available for use as bursaries and loans for all students.

The University of Pretoria will administer a total of R123-million in scholarships, bursaries and loans, including National Student Financial Aid Scheme funds, for 10 500 students.

The University of Johannes-burg has reserved R38-million for its first-year intake.

Wits University, which admits nearly 5,500 first-year students, set aside R26.9-million.

North West University first- years can access over R20-million from a bursary fund.

The University of Cape Town has set aside R18-million for qualifying students.

The Tshwane University of Technology has R14-million, the University of KwaZulu-Natal R12-million, and Durban University of Technology R6.5-million.