Unisa Expert Highlights Funding System Issues After Rhodes University Protests

A Unisa business school expert identified that resolving student funding challenges at Rhodes University requires improving the system rather than increasing financial contributions. Dr Simphiwe Madikizela, a senior lecturer at Unisa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL), emphasized that poor planning and inefficient processes prevent qualified students from receiving funds.

Rhodes University reported that student debt is rising at an unsustainable pace, threatening its capacity to sustain teaching quality, research infrastructure, and staff levels. This growing financial pressure follows recent protests over proposed fee payment protocols.

Under the current policy, students must clear 50% of outstanding debt and tuition fees by the end of 2026 to enroll in the 2027 academic year. Protests at Rhodes University in Makhanda last week led to 13 students being arrested and later released.