Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Operation Siyahlola at Cedara
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Super Zuma, accompanied by MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Sipho Nkosi, embarked on Operation Siyahlola at the Cedara College of Agriculture just outside Pietermaritzburg recently.
The Siyahlola Monitoring Programme is aimed at improving the performance of government and ensuring service delivery leaves a lasting impression.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Earlier this year Cedara, an agricultural college and research station near Howick, that offers a two-year higher certificate in agriculture and a three-year diploma in agriculture in either animal or crop production, came into question when students protested over their alleged appalling living conditions at the college. Some 100 students protested at the end of May. They claimed that about 80 male students were living in mobile units and sharing just five bathrooms. They said the mobile units were small and they were forced to share.
The students said they were moved into the mobile units three years ago due to renovations being undertaken at the college, which had not been completed at the time of the protest.
RENOVATIONS HALTED
The students also alleged that work on the renovations stopped a year ago and they had no feedback about completion.
At the time the Public Works Department undertook to replace the contractor and said a new service provider would be appointed in June.
The visit by the respective departments was aimed at checking on the progress made at the college in providing the students with better accommodation.
Zuma said the residence would now meet the demand for student accommodation, which was conducive to living and learning.
“I am very happy that students will now have a proper residence because we all know how far many of our students have to travel to attend,” he said.
“This is especially important given that our students’ real-life circumstances have a direct impact on their academic progress.” –