A prospective student has filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission, accusing the University of KwaZulu-Natal of discrimination after losing his place for 2026.
Image: South African Human Rights Commission
A prospective student has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission accusing the University of KwaZulu-Natal, of discrimination after losing his place for 2026.
Milan Sewduth, 22, from Reservoir Hills, claims the university committed a serious administrative failure despite issuing him with firm admission offers and later receiving proof that his matric results were valid and verifiable.
In his letter to the SAHRC Sewduth stated that his complaint was regarding the conduct of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) during his attempt to register for the 2026 academic year.
“I believe the circumstances may amount to unfair discrimination on the basis of disability and a failure to reasonably accommodate my circumstances, as well as administrative unfairness,” read the complaint.
Sewduth’s schooling was interrupted in 2018 due to severe illness and repeated hospitalisation. He later completed his studies through an alternative pathway after becoming wheelchair-bound and unable to attend a conventional school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He enrolled in 2022 at UCT Online High School, which is registered with the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute, an independent examination body accredited by Umalusi.
"I wrote my main National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in November 2024. Unfortunately, I experienced a relapse and was unable to write my Afrikaans exam, which meant my NSC was initially incomplete. I subsequently rewrote the subject during the May/June 2025 session and successfully completed it.
"In August 2025, SACAI issued me with a statement of results confirming that I had completed my NSC and achieved a Bachelor’s Pass," he said.
Sewduth said he applied through the Central Applications Office in August 2025, indicating that he had written through SACAI and disclosing his disability.
"In October I was asked by the UKZN commerce faculty to submit an affidavit explaining the gap in my schooling. After providing this, I received two firm admission offers from UKZN on October 13 for the Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and the Bachelor of Business Science in Finance. Four days later I received confirmation that my submission had been approved and that I would receive registration instructions closer to the 2026 registration period.
"In January I received several SMS messages from the university confirming my acceptance, welcoming me to the institution, and providing information about first-year orientation and registration," said Sewduth.
However, when he attempted to register, Sewduth said he was informed that the university could not verify his matric results and that he needed to obtain a verification letter from the Department of Basic Education.
"Because my examinations were written through SACAI rather than the Department of Basic Education, officials at the department informed me that they were unable to provide such a letter and that they do not have access to Umalusi’s certification system.
"Despite explaining this to the university and requesting an alternative verification pathway, I was repeatedly instructed to approach the department. On February 4, I was advised that I should instead reapply for the 2027 intake," he said.
He stated SACAI later confirmed that his combined NSC certificate had been issued by Umalusi.
"I provided the university with a scanned copy of this certificate, but received no response.
"Determined to resolve the issue, I contacted Universities South Africa (USAf). On February 24 a representative from USAf emailed my verified results to the university. By that stage, however, UKZN had already closed registration for the 2026 academic year," he said.
He said despite multiple attempts to resolve this, UKZN and its staff were unable to provide him with a clear or alternative verification route within a reasonable timeframe.
"As a result, I was ultimately prevented from registering for any programme."
Sewduth has raised concerns that the handling of the case highlights systemic issues in how universities verify results from accredited independent examination bodies, particularly for students who pursue alternative education pathways due to illness or disability.
Sewduth said it had always been his ambition to study at UKZN, noting that both his mother and sister are alumni.
"Based on my experience, I am concerned that I was effectively prevented from registering despite meeting the requirements and holding valid offers. I believe that my circumstances, including my non-traditional education pathway arising from my health challenges, may have contributed to how my case was handled.
"This concern forms the basis of the complaint I submitted to the South African Human Rights Commission, as I would not want other individuals, especially those with more serious conditions, to go through a similar experience. I believe steps need to be taken to foster a more equitable and prejudice-free environment within the admissions faculty," said Sewduth.
Normah Zondo, executive director of corporate relations at UKZN, said the university rejects any suggestion of unfair discrimination, including on the basis of disability.
"As a university, we are committed to equity, inclusion, and fair administrative processes in line with institutional policies and national legislation.
"In the case of Mr Sewduth, the inability to register was due to a delay in the verification of results, linked to the nature of the qualification (SACAI/Umalusi pathway), combined with institutional deadlines, capacity constraints, and academic progression considerations," she said.
Zondo said it was important to emphasise that the delay arose primarily from verification processes beyond standard automated systems, adding that the same verification and registration rules apply consistently to all applicants, regardless of personal circumstances.
She acknowledged that Sewduth had applied timeously through the CAO and was offered admission to both the Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and the Bachelor of Business Science in Finance (BBSc-F) programmes.
"A firm offer for the BBSc-F programme was issued on 17 October 2025, based on results available at the time via CAO. The applicant accepted the offer on 20 October 2025.
"At the point of processing his registration, the University’s system (ITS) reflected a matric type that was not immediately verifiable (Matric Type 17). As a result, the University could not proceed with registration until official verification of results was obtained. From 26 January the applicant was requested and reminded to submit verified results for submission to the Applications Office.
"It subsequently emerged that Mr Sewduth completed his matric through UCT Online High School under SACAI, rather than directly through the Department of Basic Education. This required additional verification processes, as such results are not automatically verifiable through standard institutional systems," she said.
Zondo said on February 23, verification was successfully obtained through the Department of Basic Education, and the matric type was updated to Matric Type 19, which meets admission requirements.
By the time verification was completed, undergraduate programmes had already reached full capacity on February 6, lectures had commenced on February 9, and the academic programme had been underway, she added.
"Given these circumstances, it was not academically feasible for the student to join the programme at that stage without significant disadvantage. The student was accordingly advised to apply for the 2027 academic year, where full consideration will be given.
"UKZN remains committed to supporting applicants equitably, maintaining academic integrity and standards, and ensuring that all admitted students are able to succeed without undue disadvantage. We regret that Mr Sewduth was unable to register for 2026 and remain open to supporting his application for the 2027 academic year," she said.
Zondo expressed the university’s willingness to cooperate with SAHRC to ensure a transparent review of Sewduth's complaint.
Pavershree Padayachee, the SAHRC provincial manager, confirmed that the provincial office is in receipt of the complaint from Sewduth.
"Same is being considered by the Commission and will be dealt with as per the Commission’s complaints handling processes," said Padayachee.