When Archbishop Thabo Makgoba graduated from Wits University he already had a hefty bill that he needed to repay because he had a loan that had funded his studies.
Being the son of a domestic worker and a pastor father, Makgoba did not have an easy life at university.
"I struggled a lot. I got a loan from NSFAS' [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] predecessor. When I graduated I had this loan and so I started life with a huge deficit. I then said 'I hope one day I can be able to help a student not to go through what I went through'," Makgoba said.
He was speaking at Wits yesterday during the launch of the SA Student Solidarity Foundation for Education. He is one of the trustees of the foundation and was also appointed its inaugural chairman. The foundation is the brainchild of former Wits student leaders. The foundation aims to raise funds to assist students who are poor but academically gifted.
Makgoba said the foundation was a platform to encourage access to education for poor students in the country. He said it offered an opportunity to be a solution to the country's needs.
One of the foundation's trustees, retired Constitutional Court Judge Richard Goldstone, said he was privileged to be part of the initiative because had it not been for the education he received at Wits he would not have been where he is in life.
Tiego Moseneke, foundation spokesman and former Wits student leader, said they were already in talks with 15 universities across the country to replicate the initiative.
Moseneke said for the next six months the foundation would focus on getting as many people to make donations before they can start making interventions.
He said, for now, the foundation would look at making sure that all registered students at Wits have something to eat, textbooks and accommodation. He said the foundation would look at funding their entire studies.
Wits deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Tawana Kupe, said the initiative was "unique and a defining moment in the life of this university". The foundation was launched following the #FeesMustFall campaign where university students were calling for an end to exorbitant funds at institutions. There was a protest on Monday at Wits where students from different universities protested against fees.
macupeb@sowetan.co.za
Bold plan to fight high varsity fees
When Archbishop Thabo Makgoba graduated from Wits University he already had a hefty bill that he needed to repay because he had a loan that had funded his studies.
Being the son of a domestic worker and a pastor father, Makgoba did not have an easy life at university.
"I struggled a lot. I got a loan from NSFAS' [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] predecessor. When I graduated I had this loan and so I started life with a huge deficit. I then said 'I hope one day I can be able to help a student not to go through what I went through'," Makgoba said.
He was speaking at Wits yesterday during the launch of the SA Student Solidarity Foundation for Education. He is one of the trustees of the foundation and was also appointed its inaugural chairman. The foundation is the brainchild of former Wits student leaders. The foundation aims to raise funds to assist students who are poor but academically gifted.
Makgoba said the foundation was a platform to encourage access to education for poor students in the country. He said it offered an opportunity to be a solution to the country's needs.
One of the foundation's trustees, retired Constitutional Court Judge Richard Goldstone, said he was privileged to be part of the initiative because had it not been for the education he received at Wits he would not have been where he is in life.
Tiego Moseneke, foundation spokesman and former Wits student leader, said they were already in talks with 15 universities across the country to replicate the initiative.
Moseneke said for the next six months the foundation would focus on getting as many people to make donations before they can start making interventions.
He said, for now, the foundation would look at making sure that all registered students at Wits have something to eat, textbooks and accommodation. He said the foundation would look at funding their entire studies.
Wits deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Tawana Kupe, said the initiative was "unique and a defining moment in the life of this university". The foundation was launched following the #FeesMustFall campaign where university students were calling for an end to exorbitant funds at institutions. There was a protest on Monday at Wits where students from different universities protested against fees.
macupeb@sowetan.co.za
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