NSFAS short payments spark student protest, with classes halted
Ikhala TVET College has suspended classes amid a student stay away over claims of NSFAS short payments.
Protesting students have been interdicted from preventing other students from entering campus.
A SRC student leader has also been suspended by the college and removed from his leadership position by other SRCs in the college network.
During the academic break, the college informed students that a stay away would be unacceptable, but that if they did proceed with it, protesters had to remain 500m away from the college.
Classes were halted on Tuesday, April 9, as students held a picket outside the college and later entered the premises.
The college said in a statement that it had nothing to do with NSFAS funding, but it understood students were upset that NSFAS had only funded three months of college attendance.
This was disputed by SRC member Phelokazi Ngcingwana who said: “Students are striking because NSFAS only paid for one month, not three months as students expected.”
Ikhala TVET College spokesperson Sandile Maqokolo said: “On March 7, the students on the Queenstown campus embarked on a protest.
“This was after receiving a report from their SRC, who had attended a NSFAS provincial workshop in Gqeberha on the new eligibility criteria.
“The students were not happy with the criteria which
emphasised the payment of an accommodation allowance based on the signed lease agreements with their landlords.
“The students demanded to be paid the maximum cap of R4,100. This demand is not consistent with what is contained in the lease agreement and the going rate of rentals in the area.
“These protests spread to all the campuses.”
Maqokolo said in an effort to
remedy the situation, a stakeholders’ meeting was called, at which the management took a decision to implement several safety and security measures.
“The management took the following action: It was resolved to suspend classes for NCV and R191 business studies on March 15 and reopen in the next term.
“Trimester students were allowed to return to campus on March 18 to finalise their
academic programme and prepare for final exams which were to start on March 26.
“A meeting with NSFAS and the SRC was held on March 14.
“Another meeting was held between the management and SRC on March 18 to communicate the way forward.”
After Tuesday’s stay away, the college resorted to interdicting all students, naming 13 students as respondents and any community members who took
part in the unlawful protest. Maqokolo said: “After the return of students on April 8, the college suspended the classes on the Queenstown campus.
“This was in response to the intimidation and blockade of the campus entrance for students who want to study and write assessments.
“Teaching and learning is continuing at other campuses. The management applied for a court order interdict. The intention of the interdict is to protect students and staff from acts of intimidation, some which include the blockading of access to the four sites including the admin centre,” she said.
The students, who are supported by Komani Progress Action (KPA), are also supporting student SRC president Lwando Ndamase who was suspended by the college for allegedly disrupting teaching and learning.
The students want his suspension to be lifted, or that the college suspend them too.
Maqokolo confirmed that Ndamase was on “precautionary suspension. This is mainly due to the disruption of teaching and learning.
“As a general safety measure, the management has beefed up security at all sites.
“This is meant to ensure the safety of employees and students. It is against this backdrop that the college has served students and KPA with an interim court order.”
Ndamase said he was suspended as the SRC chairperson of the Queenstown campus by the college management and the SRCs of other campuses.
“When we came here yesterday [Monday], I was called aside by someone who said he is from Ezibeleni campus with my letter of suspension because it is said that I am leading the strike, motivating students to strike and led students to Ezibeleni and Nonesi Campus to mobilise students to strike. I was also told that I called other campuses to start striking and now I can only come to school for exams.”