College campus closed as students strike
PROTEST action by uMfolozi TVET College students at the eSikhaleni campus is set to continue this week.
The campus was closed on Thursday as students took to the streets over a variety of issues, mostly regarding the nonpayment of service providers by the college.
These issues have subsequently affected the core functions of the institution as no services are being rendered.
In their letter to college management, signed by the eSikhaleni campus Local Student Representative Council (LSRC) chairperson, Mondli Zungu, the students said the shortage of food and textbooks was among the pressing issues as they are impacting academic operations and seriously affecting students' performance.
“We have since called upon our political affiliates to assist with transporting students for a march to the central office on Monday to demonstrate our frustrations. We promise to fight the whole of next week until our plight is adhered to,” Zungu told the ZO on Friday.
Likewise, in March suppliers at the Maphumulo campus closed the gate due to non-payments, while the college's Bhambanana campus security personnel last month engaged in protest action as a result of their company not being paid by the college.
Venting his frustrations,
Sakhile Mkhwanazi of AK9JP Protection, which is contracted to guard the Bhambanana campus, said it has been three months without payment from the college.
Having failed to pay salaries for his staff as a result of the nonpayment of invoices, Mkhwanazi said workers are still hanging on because he can negotiate with them in good faith.
“The last payment from the college was in January, which was late. The situation is ruining lives for lots of families as they are unable to provide for their dependants because of this situation. These people are living large with their families and blame the government for not giving them the money, which I believe is not true,” said a frustrated Mkhwanazi.
Uttering his displeasure about the entire situation, uMfolozi College central SRC president Sphamandla Ngubane said students had no choice but to engage in demonstrations as they too were being deprived of the information about why the college is in this mess.
“If we ask when students will be paid their allowances, we are told we are just mere students as well. On Monday [today], the central student leaders are having a meeting to chart a way forward about whether or not to close all campuses,” said Ngubane.
He further elaborated that it was not only uMfolozi TVET College that was affected by students not being paid by NSFAS.