Online registrations are set to quell the mayhem that has been caused by university walk-ins over the years.
At the beginning of every academic year, universities have been flooded by thousands of prospective students trying to secure places at the last minute. However, some of these incidences have ended tragically.
There are fears of more students walking in to make their last-ditch applications at varsities, after president Jacob Zuma's move to scrap tuition fees for students from poor South African homes.
For the 2018 academic year, most universities in SA have said they will not allow "walk-in" applications, preferring to process all admission processes online.
The demand at South African universities for undergraduate places for 2018 has dramatically increased, with institutions getting way more applications than they can take in. In previous years, walk-ins have resulted in chaotic scenes, with the worst case coming in 2012 at the University of Johannesburg, when a parent died in the process of trying to secure a place for her child.
In a statement, Universities South Africa (USAF), a body representing universities, says no walk-ins will be entertained at its 26 universities.
It points out it held a meeting to discuss the announcement: "One of the decisions out of that meeting was that since new applications had closed in 2017 at all 26 universities, no 'walk-in' applications would be accepted.
"Universities should abide by their enrolment plans and targets agreed between each university and the DHET [Department of Higher Education and Training]," USAF says.
In a statement issued last week, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) said: "The university reminds all who have applied to and are interested in studying at UJ that the application, admission and registration process is handled entirely online.
"This includes late application enquiries. UJ does not, under any circumstances, accept on-campus late application enquiries (walk-ins)."
The varsity says all applicants who have been accepted for a programme of study at UJ will receive official confirmation of their final admission status via e-mail.
Western Cape universities have also stressed they will not accept any walk-in applications from students who haven't previously been accepted.
However, these moves have been met with resistance from some political parties, like the Economic Freedom Fighters, which recently declared that if walk-in applicants are not allowed onto university campuses, nobody else should be allowed to enter.
"USAF is deeply concerned by the call made by some political leaders for students to simply turn up at universities for enrolment, without having made appropriate prior arrangements for their admission," says Professor Ahmed Bawa, CEO of USAF.
"This is unfortunate, as it may result in a replay of events with potential to cause injury to students and their families. We recall with deep anxiety the event at the University of Johannesburg in January 2012, which resulted in the death of a parent."
Meanwhile, the Department of Higher Education and Training is urging Grade 12 learners who passed matric in 2017, but have not yet secured a place at a university or college, to use the Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) system.
CACH is the Department of Higher Education and Training's online application portal designed for Grade 12 students who are seeking admission to post-school education and training.
The service assists prospective students by sharing their matric results with public and private further and higher education institutions across the country, including technical and vocational training colleges, universities, sector education and training authorities and registered private higher institutions.
Institutions with open study places, technical training opportunities, or apprenticeship slots then make them available to the most suitable applicants on the CACH database.
The service opened on Friday, following the release of the 2017 matric results, and will close on 28 February 2018.
"Students who have been declined offers at universities should come to CACH, which is an ideal route to find a study space that is still available at another institution.
"CACH also provides a portal for school leavers, and other prospective students who may not have completed their schooling, to career information, advice and development services," says the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The CACH system has, in recent years, assisted thousands of young people across the country to find the right PSET opportunities to access places available to get into training, college, or university as an essential step towards empowering themselves.
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