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Student debt crisis worsens in South Africa

FS

TUDENT debt in South Africa continues to climb and has now surpassed 16.5 billion rand ($1bn). Effective government intervention is needed to solve an issue that has plagued the country for years.South African students are struggling to pay back their loans, due to simultaneous increases in student fees and costs of living. As a result, universities are having difficulty funding their academic programmes. A lack of support from the Department of Higher Education has exacerbated the issue.

120,000 students are currently stuck in educational limbo — unable to graduate due to the money they owe. Wary of entering this debt trap, many young people are now reluctant to enter higher education, resulting in long-run skill shortages and youth unemployment. Since the explosion of the #FeesMustFall movement back in 2015, students have been protesting for affordable, accessible higher education. However, despite years of government initiatives and promises, the situation is worse than ever.

By Ellie Whitcombe, Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Elizabeth Barber and Callum Martin.