It is deeply troubling that North West University has decided to introduce an application fee, a move that continues to barricade access for black and marginalised young people who come from working-class families and disadvantaged backgrounds. At the epicentre of this issue lies the hard reality of the North West Province, which bears the grim titles of having the highest unemployment and poverty rates in South Africa. For a region already bogged down by socioeconomic challenges, an additional financial barrier in the form of an application fee is a disheartening blow to aspirations and opportunities.

For many students hailing from these communities, the dream of higher education is not just a personal ambition but a collective hope for a brighter future for entire families and communities. Education has always been a powerful tool for change and progress, yet the introduction of this fee threatens to extinguish that spark. Those students who wish to apply to North West University should not be stopped before they have even begun their journey.

Consider the burden placed on parents already struggling to make ends meet, their dreams for their children's future now thwarted by an unexpected and unnecessary financial hurdle. It is imperative that NWU recognises the potential impact of this fee and acts to rectify it by removing the application charge completely.

We call on North West University to stand by its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility by removing this barrier. Let us open the doors wider for all students, ensuring equitable educational opportunities. Sign this petition to urge NWU to prioritise education over profit and to genuinely support the dreams of young black South Africans.

AMANDLA!!