While the University of Pretoria, UCT and Unisa show a stronger financial position,\u00a0Rhodes University, UKZN, the University of Johannesburg, and Wits University – whose students are seen as leading the charge of Fees Must Fall – show that they can ill-afford to incur any more losses.<\/p>\n
The net change in stock refers to the university’s cash position after balancing all cash flows from operating activities and financing activities.<\/em><\/p>\n Tuition fees, which have been at the centre of the Fees Must Fall campaign – where students have been calling for free education for all – account for 34% of all money universities get, amounting to R21.5 billion in 2015.<\/p>\n A further R26.8 billion comes from the state in the form of grants – while a further R4 billion is gained through donations.<\/p>\n Tuition fees fall about R10 billion short of covering universities’ staff costs – which amount to R31.4 billion. Were these funds to fall away completely, universities would need to find that amount elsewhere.<\/p>\n Stellenbosch University alone benefited from R1.13 billion in donations in 2015, which helped it stay afloat in the financial year.<\/p>\n The financial position of the country’s top institutions are at risk of getting worse with students demanding free education.<\/p>\n According to Stats SA, the annual increase in tuition fees over the last decade has been 12.7% per annum – with 2015’s average increase at 9.8%, 2016’s increase at 0%, and 2017’s increase at no more than 8%.<\/p>\n Where the smartest students attend university in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Inside South Africa\u2019s massive university drop-out problem<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"net-change-in-stock-of-cash\"](\"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Net-change-in-Stock-of-cash.png\")
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