Rhodes University students fear for the future, and their next meal, amid campus shutdown

The university has reportedly accumulated a total debt of R853 million since September 2026 and earlier this month told self-funded undergraduate students that they will need to settle at least 50% of their outstanding debt before they can register for next year.“All students in debt to the University, except for those funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas), are required to approach an institution that provides student loans, for example, Fundi, Student Hero or a financial institution, to secure a student loan,” said the notice.22-year-old Alulutho Ntapane is finishing her studies at Rhodes University at the end of the year, but now lives in fear that the institution’s proposed new debt recovery plan will leave her even more burdened as she battles to find a job.