The University of Zululand in KwaZulu Natal has reportedly spent R24 million on luxury homes for its executives, while students struggle for funding, and its own programmes go unfinanced.<\/p>\n
This is according to the latest issue of Noseweek (October)<\/a><\/strong>, which reports that the properties – located in the Zini River Estate – were paid for in cash, while some were still under construction.<\/p>\n The university also reportedly splashed out on furnishings for the home, taking the total cost to as much as R35 million, the magazine said.<\/p>\n The University of Zululand is currently facing a student finance shortfall, where outstanding student funds have not yet been paid to help students in distress.<\/p>\n Read: Massive fake degrees scandal uncovered at South African university<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The properties were purchased in the past year, Noseweek said, between the time that the FeesMustFall protests in 2015 ended, and the resurgent protests in 2016.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, protesting students gutted and set alight a storage building at the university, amid ongoing unrest over fees.<\/p>\n Students across South African universities are currently protesting, calling for free education, after higher education minister, Blade Nzimande, left it in the universities’ hands to determine a fee hike for 2017.<\/p>\n The minister recommended that hikes not go over 8% – and said that government (taxpayers) would cover the increase for students on financial aid, or who fell into the “missing middle”.<\/p>\n SA university heads take a pay-cut \u2013 this is how much they earn<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018Students just want to demand\u2019 \u2013 Blade Nzimande<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on universities<\/h3>\n