It has been a bleak graduation season for more than 53,700 students who didn’t receive their degrees from 13 South African universities in 2023 and 2024 because of unpaid fees. This is according to the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation in response to EFF MP Vuyani Pambo’s April question to the department.

Some universities such as UCT prohibit students from attending the graduation ceremony if they still owe the university money, using this as a way to encourage students to repay their debts. This does not apply to students who have received support from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Other universities like Nelson Mandela University, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and the University of Johannesburg still allow students to participate in the ceremony. But instead of being handed a degree, students receive a degree confirmation letter or the transcript.