Determined students brave the heat
Little cover as crowds throng stadium to register
Thousands of prospective students braved the heat on the grounds of the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, for a place at Capricorn TVET College.
Some students began camping at the stadium from Saturday, sleeping over for two nights seeking to improve their chances to register.
Three marquees erected inside the stadium yesterday were not enough to accommodate the large crowds of desperate students.
Management of the college took a decision to move the registrations of new students to the stadium after a stampede outside the college on Thursday left at least six people injured. Only returning students were allowed to register at the institution’s campus.
Deputy Minister for Higher Education Buti Manamela was happy the registration process was running smoothly.
Manamela said of all the institutions where registrations had taken place‚ Capricorn was the only one where there was a stampede last week.
“So we had to engage with the college management‚ the principal‚ to make alternative arrangements in terms of registration where there is sufficient space‚” he said at the stadium.
Sello Muleya, 20, from Musina, said he arrived in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon. He had no form of bedding for the overnight wait, just the desire to get registered.
“I want to register for public safety course. I did not apply but I hope that I will be afforded an opportunity to register to pursue my studies,” he said.
Another prospective student, Phathutshedzo Mei, said he applied online in November for a course in hospitality but received no response.
“I will remain on these grounds until I get registered, and only go back home after [that],” said the 20-year-old from Nzhelele, 200km north of Polokwane.
College spokesman Tumelo Morobe said they were looking at registering 1 200 students at the Polokwane campus.