By Sibusiso Menzelwa
East London - Two Eastern Cape universities have thrown a lifeline to late applicants by extending the deadline for applications for new students next year.
The University of Fort Hare’s deputy registrar, Noel Knickelbein, said the university had extended the deadline due to a lower-than-usual number of applications.
“The university has extended the closing date for late applications to the end of November for those who still want to apply. However, matric pupils should adhere to application guidelines and apply early,” said Knickelbein.
Walter Sisulu University (WSU) spokesperson Angela Church said the university has extended its deadline for applications to November 30.
“We have extended the application deadline because of the seven-week strike by staff in September,” said Church.
However, Rhodes University spokesperson Zamuxolo Matiwana said the institution would not be extending its deadline for applications.
“Our closing date was September 30 for all applicants. We will only consider late applications from South African students who received exceptional matric results, but we will probably not be able to offer them accommodation,” said Matiwana.
Ludwe Sam, a matric pupil from Khanya High School in Whittlesea near Queenstown, said he and other matric pupils were waiting for their June matric exam results before applying.
“We only received our June matric exam results at the end of September, so we could only apply now,” said Sam, who applied to study electrical engineering at WSU in 2014.
He said he was worried that he wouldn’t get his application in on time, and was relieved when he heard that the application deadline had been extended.
“If my application had been rejected, I would have had to find something to do to keep me occupied for a whole year,” said Sam. – SAnews.gov.za
