ABOUT 2 000 students have signed a petition initiated by Project W to scrap the international student levy
ABOUT 2 000 students have signed a petition initiated by Project W to scrap the international student levy.
The petition further calls for absorbing the International Students office into the Fees office, which Project W said will allow international students to pay the same fees as South African students and allow international students to pay in instalments like South African students.
Jamie Mighti, spokesperson for Project W, said that the petition “most directly affects African international students as they make up 90% of the international student community of approximately 4 000 students”.
Mighti told Wits Vuvuzela that the international levy is a minimum of R5 000 and stated that the petitions “started in the second week of the second semester” but signatures will stop being collected today (Friday, July 29) as they have exceeded their target.
Mighti said that “on Monday we will be presenting our petitions to the university formally for the first time to Vice Chancellor [Adam Habib] first in preparation for formal presentation to the finance and academic committees which both will be meeting in August.”
“There is no formal petition policy or process to follow,” said Mighti. “But based on our past experience we make a presentation and call for a public referendum.”
Mighti said if the petition is turned down then Project W plans to proceed to the court and ask for an order that it be considered at University Council and the international student fee be scrapped.
