MPUMALANGA – The Department of International Relations and Cooperation is yet to respond to the call from 470 South African students who want to be repatriated from Russia.
A group of medical and IT students stranded in various cities in Russia alleges that Racus agency, which is mandated by the Mpumalanga Department of Education to administer their admission into various Russian universities, would not respond to their requests amid the disheartening living conditions. The director of Racus South Africa Dr. Protus Kum says it is the responsibility of the government to repatriate the students and that only 10% of the students Racus has placed are from the government while the rest are private students.
“You [Highveld Chronicle] are launching a personal attack on Racus. What does the Director of Racus have to do with the students? Why is everything now different because of Coronavirus (COVID – 19)?”, asked Kum who said he will not respond further to the Highveld Chronicle questions.
More details revealed by the students on why they want to be repatriated are:
- ● Racus would not respond to their requests for an emergency fund for them to get essential items for protection against COVID-19. Their universities have not given them any items to stay protected. Petitions, emails, and calls have been written to Racus and the Education Department with no success.
- Medical Insurance does not include prescribed medication; they are for consultation only which means they must use the already smaller stipend to buy prescribed medication.
“Today one student was turned away by a doctor who said they cannot accept the medical insurance card”, said one student. “It means that she has to use the stipend which will not last her until month-end”, said one unnamed student.
The residential area is unhygienic and too crowded to survive the covid-19 pandemic. “In Saratov city alone there are about 142 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two in our residence,” said the students’ representative who would not reveal his real name at this stage. Allegations that the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) has not confirmed recognition of qualifications from the medical universities in Russia and is yet to conduct an evaluation. “If the council says it does not know, then what does it mean?”, asked one students.
Parents of the students have reportedly contacted Dr. Kum, DIRCO, Russian Embassy with no positive outcome yet. “He [Dr. Kum] lied to our parents that we are okay and safe here in Russia and that they should not worry”, alleged the students. Education spokesperson, Jasper Zwane, was reluctant to respond on this issue as attempts by Highveld Chronicle to get a response from him through calls, emails, and SMSs proved fruitless. It should also be noted that more than two weeks ago, Zwane’s colleague, Gerald Sambo, has promised to send a media statement to address the issue at hand. A previous 2019 news article from News Era reveals that Gerald Sambo had admitted that the “department did not go through tender processes to appoint Kum and his company, Racus.”
The National Department of Higher Education and Training (DHT) says the Department of International Relations and Cooperation is handling the matter and will make a decision and release any information at the appropriate time. “Furthermore, the communication part on the repatriation of South African citizens is left to the National Command Council of Covid-19 “, said a spokesperson for DHT Ishmael Mnisi.
SANCO in Mpumalanga Nkangala District says they are looking into the matter and are making follow-ups with the department of education in Mpumalanga.
