AfriForum Youth welcomes no racial quotas at new KZN university

AfriForum Youth welcomes the announcement of KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Senzo Mchunu that no racial quotas would apply at the new medical university planned for Newcastle. 

“We are delighted to see that the new institution would only select students on merit. It’s a positive step as other institutions have strict racial quotas, especially in medical faculties, according to which students are selected,” said Eduan Dupper, spokesperson for AfriForum Youth.

AfriForum Youth has tackled discriminatory application procedures over the past three years at higher education institutions, specifically in medical faculties across the country as well as the Faculty for Veterinary Sciences at the University of Pretoria.

“Merit as yardstick ensures future economic growth, prevents crucial expertise to leave the country and ensures that a person’s human dignity is not impugned upon by so-called transformation. Students who come from unfavourable socio-economic circumstances should rather be empowered through bridging courses and further training in order for them to compete on an equal level,” Dupper said.

AfriForum Youth last year submitted a memorandum and petition to Parliament in which they requested the exemption of the youth of South Africa from racial classification.