• The Wits student representative council have launched a funding initiative looking to aid new students who are financially excluded from studying.
• Through donations, the SRC hopes to raise R15 million which will be matched by the university for a total of R30 million.
• The fund is aimed at covering tuition, registration and other costs so that students can focus on their academics.

Just as the matric class of 2024 gets its end year results and now begins the process to start the tertiary education journey, the Wits Student Representative Council (SRC), with the help of the university, have launched a fund to aid the potential missing middle students in their application process.

The Kubo Ya Thuto initiative, as it is called, will seek to raise R15 million from donors including Wits alumni, corporates, and private citizens, which will be matched by the university for a total target of R30 million to help fund the education of students, according to Wits SRC president, Nombulelo Chiya.

The SRC #KoboYaThuto Legacy Fund is aimed at addressing the dire state of financial exclusion within Wits University and looks to bring about a solution in creating a sustainable future so every student may have equal access to education regardless of their financial background. pic.twitter.com/JaCh96tguH

— Wits SRC (@Wits_SRC) January 15, 2025

“For so many students, financial exclusion is a war that they cannot break through. As the Wits SRC we’ve heard the cries. Seen the struggles and felt the impact of financial exclusion,” says the SRC leader.

“That is why we are proud the launch the KuboYaThuto SRC Legacy Fund which is a broad initiative aimed at raising R15 million, together with the university’s contribution, to raise R30 million in the fight against financial exclusion.”

Private citizens can help donate by going to the online to the Legacy Fund website and selecting the amount and method they’d like to pay.

According to the Wits SRC, the fund seeks to cover the Wits application, tuition, registration and other costs so that students can focus on their academic instead of their financial burdens.

While the Legacy Fund is an SRC initiative, the university also manages a number of student bursary and funding options. Including the Hardship Fund for students who have a gross household income of less than R600 000 per annum and live further than 30KM from the radius.

The criteria to apply for the SRC Legacy Fund are still be to be disclosed but the fund will seek to support those that do not qualify for funding from NSFAS or other private bursaries and would like to study at the university. 

It is likely that student funding process will begin when the targets are reached.