NSRC Statement on the collapse of ICT Systems

The 2026 registration period has officially commenced from the 7^th of January 2026; however, students have been met with deeply disappointing and unacceptable ICT infrastructure failures. From the first day of registration institutional systems have been unstable, frequently crashing and rendering students unable to register timeously.

It is unacceptable that an institution of UNISA’s magnitude and strategic importance cannot stabilize its ICT infrastructure during one of the most critical periods of the UNISA calendar. Registration is a core academic function, and its failure undermines institutional credibility and student confidence.

As a direct consequence of these system failures, students have been forced to physically migrate from various provinces to Pretoria campus in the hope of receiving assistance. This has placed immense pressure on the students who already must struggle with raising funds for the minimum registrations’ fees, this situation could and should have been avoided.

A well-run and competently led ICT would have anticipated the registration volumes, particularly given the historical data and prior registration trends and thus would have adequately prepared systems to withstand peak demand. The failure to do so points to serious shortcomings in planning and operational readiness from the ICT portfolio.

The continued collapse of ICT systems has already begun to negatively impact students’ enrolment numbers and poses a significant threat to the university’s enrolment targets furthermore, prolonged system instability may force the institution into extending the registration period, which will have a ripple effect on the academic project, including delayed commencement of teaching and learning.

The National Student Representative Council (NSRC) calls for immediate and decisive consequence management. We cannot allow incompetence, poor planning, and lack of leadership to derail the 2026 registration period and compromise students.

The NSRC further calls on management to:

• Urgently stabilize all registration related systems and provide clear and consistent communication to students
• implement contingency measures to support students affected by system failures, including alternative registration support mechanism
• Present a detailed report outlining the causes of the ICT collapse, corrective actions taken and measures to prevent recurrence.

Lastly the integrity of the of the institution and success of the 2026 academic year depends on the urgent intervention and accountability.