Bay students protest over NSFAS funding
Hundreds of tertiary students took to the streets yesterday to protest about the alleged nonpayment of accommodation fees by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
At least 200 students from PE TVET College’s Iqhayiya campus raised placards as they sang and danced outside the Struandale Road campus to get the attention of NSFAS and college officials.
PE TVET College student and EFF student command leader Ayabonga Qegu said the ongoing issue had created uncertainty about their academic year.
“We are feeling very nervous and unprepared to start the new academic year,” he said.
“These more than 200 students have not received their accommodation fees, so how are they meant to concentrate on academics when they don’t even know where they will stay at night?
“There is also the issue of laptops that were meant to be coming from NSFAS, which have also not been forthcoming.
“We have been engaging with the respective authorities on these issues, but no solutions are being implemented.”
He said the students would continue protesting until they received payment.
Across town, the entrance to Nelson Mandela University’s south campus was barricaded by students who used a soccer net to block the road.
It is understood they are also protesting about a lack of funds.
In a social media post yesterday morning, the university’s emergency management team said online classes would continue “due to the present fluid situation on its Gqeberha campuses with student groups mobilising with various entrances blocked”.
Shuttles to and from campus were temporarily halted.
According to a NSFAS statement on its website, the board met on February 16 to consider various policy and operational matters relating to the the new academic year.
“The NSFAS board notes with concern instances of instability in some institutions as a result of student accommodation challenges,” it said.
“The NSFAS board and management will visit all the hotspot institutions to engage the management of the institutions and student leaders.”
According to the website, to date, out of 40,522 beds registered on NSFAS platforms in TVET Colleges, 32,272 beds have been accredited and are available for registered NSFASfunded students, and about 8,250 are in the process of being accredited.
Out of 72,241 beds registered on the NSFAS platform in universities, 47,150 beds have been accredited and are available for registered NSFAS-funded students, and about 25,091 are in the process of being accredited.
NMU said in a statement it had been interacting with NSFAS and student structures to resolve issues raised by the students including accommodation, academic exclusion, nutrition, data and laptops.
“[NMU] is committed to supplementing the 300 meals a day being supplied by the CSRC [Central Student Representative Council] and the 600 from Student Health Services, by an additional 250 meals, along with the establishment of soup kitchens [for the week], in line with those offered on the George campus.
“Now that NSFAS has disbursed its book allowances to students, the university is able to open the Student Laptop Device project, starting later today [yesterday],” the statement said.
“Students who do not have direct access to WiFi will soon be receiving a monthly data allowance.
“We wish to find solutions that are sustainable and will benefit all involved.”
NSFAS failed to respond to requests for comment.