Qualified but Locked Out: South Africa’s Student Debt Crisis Leaves Thousands of Graduates in Limbo episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 17, 2026 · 11 MIN

Qualified but Locked Out: South Africa’s Student Debt Crisis Leaves Thousands of Graduates in Limbo

from The Best of POWER Breakfast · host POWER98.7

  Thabiso Tema, POWER BREAKFAST host, speaks to Dr Phethiwe Matutu, CEO of Universities South Africa (USAf), about how a growing debate is unfolding over the practice of public universities withholding graduation certificates from students who have completed their studies but still owe outstanding fees. At the heart of the controversy is a staggering student debt burden estimated at R55 billion, according to figures presented by Universities South Africa (USAf) to Parliament.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Qualified but Locked Out: South Africa’s Student Debt Crisis Leaves Thousands of Graduates in Limbo

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This episode was published on June 17, 2026.

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  Thabiso Tema, POWER BREAKFAST host, speaks to Dr Phethiwe Matutu, CEO of Universities South Africa (USAf), about how a growing debate is unfolding over the practice of public universities withholding graduation certificates from students who have...

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