DASO UWC

04/03/2021

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS

Dear Campus Community

Registration has been delayed due to various factors, e.g. the economic difficulties many families find themselves in during this time, and more especially, the delay from NSFAS in advising universities about the success of funding applications. However, a large number of students have already been financially cleared and are eligible to register. We encourage those students to do so without delay.

The University understands the difficulties many students are experiencing and have
decided to financially clear all students to allow them to register. All students will have their registration fee added to their tuition account, and the upfront payment will be waived, allowing for immediate registration.

Students will, however, be expected to submit a payment plan in respect of their student debt by mid-April 2021.

In addition, senior students with outstanding debt will be expected to sign an Acknowledgement of Debt (AoD) by mid-April 2021. Further details on the AoD process will follow in later communications from Student Credit Management (SCM).

Understanding the anxiety you are experiencing as deadlines for registration loom, the University has decided to extend registration to the 12 March 2021.

In consultation with the Deans, the start of the first term, which was meant to begin on Monday 8 March 2021, has been shifted to Monday, 15 March 2021 (with the exception of the CHS and Dentistry faculties where senior students will begin on 8 March).

We urge students to complete their registration as soon as possible so as not to miss the beginning of the academic term.

Professor Tyrone Pretorius
Rector and Vice-Chancellor

25/12/2020

🎄 | DASO-UWC would like to take this opportunity to wish all celebrating, a very Merry Christmas.

🎊| This year, Christmas will be extremely different to last, but we trust that you will find a way to make it a joyous one.

😷 | We urge all of you, wherever you may go, to take the necessary precautions today as you celebrate.

🎆 | At the same time, we would also like to wish all of you a prosperous new year. May 2021 be bigger and better than 2020.

🏛 | Let’s meet again in 2021.

17/12/2020

Following our letter to the University’s Executive Management, we received a response earlier today which reads as follows:

Dear DASO Leadership,

Your email is noted.

On 7 December 2020 all universities received a communique from NSFAS outlining the process for the payment of allowances to qualifying students for the extended academic period.

NSFAS developed the eligibility criteria for allowances and UWC and other institutions implemented NSFAS decisions.

In the communique received from NSFAS, there is no
indication that this is something that can be appealed, as institutions were requested to submit the names of students who will form part of the extended academic programme.

We trust that this explains the process that was followed and the extent to which UWC has been involved. Your concern about the well being is commendable.

Kind regards
Khaya Magopeni
Executive Assistant to the DVC:SDS

16/12/2020

STATEMENT

16 DECEMBER 2020

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation at the University of the Western Cape (DASO-UWC) has today, written to the University’s Executive Management regarding the distribution of December NSFAS allowances.

We have been informed that NSFAS allowances will continue to be distributed during the next few days to students who are participating in the catch-up period.

However, we are of the view that all students should receive these allowances, irrespective of whether they are participating in catch-ups or not.

We wish to emphasise that a vast majority of NSFAS recipients use their NSFAS allowances to support their families, especially during this crisis period. This comes after many challenges which has, due to the lockdown, resulted in job losses over the last few months.

It should also be noted that several students, residing in private accommodation around the Cape metropole, have taken a decision to remain in the province over the vacation period for work purposes, so that they can support their families back home.
However, they have been unable to pay their monthly rent to landlords due to lack of funding.

We are requesting that the University reconsider their decision to fund catch-up students only, so that the distribution is more inclusive, as everyone’s circumstances have been impacted differently during this time.

ENQUIRIES:
[email protected]

14/12/2020

STATEMENT

14 DECEMBER 2020

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation at the University of the Western Cape (DASO-UWC) has taken note of recent developments around tuition fee increments for the 2021 academic year.

The University of the Western Cape has made it clear that it will, subject to Council approval, support and implement the Ministerial fee compact which includes:

2021 Tuition fee increase 4,7%
2021 Residence fee increase 6,7%
2021 Upfront payment at registration R4 290 (no increase from 2020)
2021 Upfront payment Residence student at R4 840 (no increase from 2020) 2021 Registration fee R1 445 (no increase from 2020)

As DASO-UWC, we wish to categorically state that we oppose this compact. As a result of the pandemic, and subsequent lockdown, many households have been forced to take salary cuts, and many have even faced retrenchments – leaving them with little or no disposal income.

This compact, once again, proves that the South African Government, specifically the Department of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, under Dr. Blade Nzimande’s leadership, do not care about the poor and working class.

We are calling on Council, the SRC, and SRC affiliates to oppose these increments as it does not represent the best interests of our students, many of whom do not come from privileged backgrounds.

ENQUIRIES:
[email protected]

06/11/2020

STATEMENT
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
DATE: 06 NOVEMBER 2020

The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation at the University of the Western Cape (DASO-UWC) this week mourns the death of Ezile Ntanjana, a final year Arts and Humanities student, who passed away in a motor vehicle accident on Saturday, 31 October 2020.

We also mourn the death of Darian Miguel Samuel Koopman, a third year LLB student in the Law Faculty, who passed on this week.

As DASO-UWC, we wish to sympathize with the family, friends, and larger UWC Community during this time.

ENQUIRIES
[email protected]

30/10/2020

URGENT:

30/10/2020

📚

15/10/2020

STATEMENT
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
DATE: 15 OCTOBER 2020

The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation at the University of the Western Cape (DASO-UWC) expresses concern regarding the distribution of day and residential permits to students who have requested them under Alert Level 1 of the nationwide lockdown. This level, according to Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, means that universities can welcome 100% of their students back to campuses.

However, the University of the Western Cape has opted to continue with online learning for the rest of the academic year. This is highly welcomed.

There are several students who have requested to return to residences through their respective faculties but what is concerning is the fact this process is slowing down and, in some instances, students who applied during the course of the past two weeks have already received permits whereas students who applied as early as the beginning of September 2020 are left waiting without any explanations.

We are calling on those responsible for the distribution to ensure that permits are distributed in a fair and speedy manner, especially since we are nearing the end-of- year examination period.

The distribution of permits should be done in a “first-come, first-serve” basis to ensure that fairness prevails.

07/10/2020

💙

Momentum Health has donated over R1.3 million to UWC’s Department of Accounting - money that will help nearly 50 final-year students complete their studies free of worries over outstanding debt.

06/10/2020

STATEMENT
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
DATE: 06 OCTOBER 2020

RE: Death of Mr Themba Mngomezulu

The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation at the University of the Western Cape (DASO-UWC) mourns the death of a fellow student, Mr Themba Mngomezulu, who was a Dentistry student residing at Disa Residence, Tygerberg. The deceased was found in his room on Monday.

We wish to extend our condolences to the family and friends during this time.

A screenshot has been circulating on social media stating that the student was discovered 3 weeks later. We do not know how true this is and call on the UWC Management to investigate whether this is indeed true.

This also relates to the issue around residence visits during this time which have been prohibited throughout the lockdown. We call on management to allow for residence visits to allow for social interaction amongst students, especially in cases where students are struggling to cope mentally and require support from peers.

A few weeks ago, the President of the Republic of South Africa announced that visits to family and friends would be allowed, however, he emphasized that protocols need to be adhered to.
We remain firm that these visits should be allowed at campus residences (with health protocols to be followed by students) during this time, especially since UWC has been declared low risk where the virus is concerned.

Enquiries
Zeke Wareley – 083 553 5702