NOTHANDO MAKHUBELA
EMALAHLENI – A visit by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to Nkangala TVET College on Tuesday didn’t yield much solution, according to the student representative body.
Emalahleni campus’ Student Representative Council (SRC) academic officer, Lebohang Mokoena, said the visit was not related to the grievances they have been protesting for such as the lack of NSFAS allowances distributed to them. The representatives were allegedly chased away when student began to sing toyi-toying songs.
Mokoena said that they didn’t give them answers regarding how they are supposed to be productive when they do not have funds for food, transport, accommodation and other necessities. “They did not give us any answers on when we will get our allowances,” Mokoena pointed out.
Prior to the start of the protests, students were reportedly ganging up on Principal Cain Maimela as they protest for accommodation, transport and learning equipment. A bystander said that they did not allow him to move but to stand in the rain and listen to their grievances.
An SRC female member added that the principal last year promised them that he was going to help them get accommodation but still he has not. “We also have not received our NSFAS allowances,” an SRC member said.
“We have been struggling for many years, every year we stage protests for accommodation and the college does not take us seriously. Students are sharing rooms with drug dealers and prostitutes. The environment in central business district is not conducive and friendly for one to stay in,” she said.
Lindiwe Zulu, a second year student at the campus, said the NSFAS promised to give them R6, 500 for accommodation but it’s not enough. “The money from NSFAS is not enough. Rooms are too expensive plus too small to accommodate three students in one room. Now, landlords are chasing us out because NSFAS is still delaying payments. Our study facility is a mess. There is no way that students can study in such horrible study facility. It is always dirty; furniture is old and broken. We need a renewed facility,” she said.
On 3 March a student was arrested during the protests and other students were shot with rubber bullets by police. The arrested student has since been released. The NSFAS was not available for comment.
