By Zanele Makola

Vaal University of Technology (VUT) first-year registrations for the 2026 academic year were disrupted after the institution’s online system crashed shortly after the process opened on January 19, leaving many prospective students anxious about securing placement due to limited space.

The system failure prompted concerns among first-time entrants, particularly those attempting to register within the university’s initial 48-hour registration window. Many students reported difficulties accessing the platform, raising fears that they could lose their opportunity to enroll.

VUT Executive Director Dr Gugulethu Xaba confirmed that the university had postponed registrations and would communicate further updates to affected students. He said the institution had agreed to extend the registration period, acknowledging that the original time-frame was inadequate.

“The university has agreed to extend registrations because we know students are only given 48 hours to register after the registrations open, which is not enough time,” Xaba said.

Following the disruption, VUT released revised registration dates to accommodate all categories of students. Master’s and doctoral candidates may register from January 8 to March 31. First-time entering students may register from January 22 until programme quotas are filled. Senior students are scheduled to register from January 23 to February 1, while late registrations, additions and cancellations will be processed from February 2 to February 6.

The university has urged students to remain patient and to regularly monitor official communication channels for updates as the registration process stabilizes.