Thousands of matriculants with exceptional results get rejected every year because there is not enough space at universities in South Africa.

Every year the media is proliferated with news of desperate applicants who have qualified for a particular program. However, their applications are rejected, and they cannot enroll in university only because of a lack of space at universities. There were over 4 million (4 154 976) applications for over a hundred thousand (162 930) places for the 2023 academic year. That implies only 3,9% of applications were accepted.

Mbali was one of the hundreds of thousands of matriculants who was rejected on account of lack of space and capacity at university.

"My name is Mbali, I first applied to UJ in 2019 when I matriculated with a Bachelor's pass and two distinctions, and even though I qualified, they put me on a waiting list because of space constraints and never got back to me. All other universities were full, so I ended up in a fly-by-night private college in Braamfontein, from which I was later financially excluded. In early 2022 I applied to UJ again. This time, they gave me a firm offer which I was delighted to accept! But a few days ago, they sent me an email saying I have been put back on the waiting list due to space. Despite accepting my offer? UJ is ruining my life!"

Like Mbali, many are in despair and desperate after they are academically excluded because of lack of space.

Nelson Mandela once envisaged, "Education is the most powerful weapon which one can utilize to transform the world." Getting to university is part of many young people's dreams to realize their aspirations and change their circumstances.

The number of students that complete matric and apply for a placement at university has increased exponentially since 1994. In contrast, the number of universities built post-1994 and the universities' intake of students is marginal. Given South Africa's historical and ongoing academic exclusion, the need for universities to increase the intake of students is eminent.

Please sign and share my petition calling Minister Blade Nzimande (Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation) to increase enrolment space at universities by 40% in 2024 by establishing and including contactless programs in all universities.