Students protest over NSFAS bursaries
In the wake of the dissolution of the board of the National Student Financial
Aid Scheme (NSFAS) last week, students of the South Cape College George Campus embarked on protest action on Monday 15 April.
Public order police were dispatched to the scene where students had gathered at and blockaded the entrance. Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies confirmed that police members used stun grenades to disperse the group.
A case of public violence and intimidation was opened for further police investigation and four suspects, three men and a woman, were arrested in connection with this matter, according to Spies.
Three of the suspects, Samkelile Piyase
(22) from Rosemoor, and Hlumelo Maneli (22) and Mpumzi Soldati (37), both from Thembalethu, appeared in court on Monday on a charge of public violence. According to the charge sheet, the accused and a group of about 50 people unlawfully assembled and prevented access to the college, threw stones at the public order police and blocked Hibernia Street. The three were released on the condition not to be involved in any other offences, and the case was remanded to 25 June.
Speaking to George Herald on behalf of the students during the protest on Monday, Mkazimlo Mzamane said they were unhappy about delays in NSFAS bursary payments as well as the handling of payments by Norraco Transact. He said there are cases of students not having access to their own funds. They want Norraco to be removed as an intermediary between students and NSFAS. Mzamane said they will keep the campus closed until they receive their funds.
The college communications department upon enquiry said it is awaiting feedback from the college board before it can respond to media queries.
NSFAS has been placed under administration following the disbanding of its board by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande. Nzimande had said it was because of the scheme's failure to address student challenges.
George Herald is awaiting comment from college management.
NMU students also protesting
On Wednesday morning, students from the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) George Campus also protested at the campus entrance.
According to their memorandum of demands, they are asking for three months' accommodation for financially cleared students who do not have accommodation. Some of the NSFAS bursary funded students have not received their full book allowance and meal allowance for April, and some have not received anything at all, according to the memorandum.
Among the other issues is a request for shuttle marshals to attend to shuttle matters as well as baboon marshals to do something about the baboons on campus that "are doing as they please". According to the memorandum, students are suffering as a result of the baboons roaming the campus.
The students have given campus management a 24-hour ultimatum to respond to their demands, threatening that no classes or operations, except for imperative services, will continue until their demands are met.
"The management was supposed to meet with the student populace to engage and hear the grievances, but this time it did not happen. They called the police to come and shoot. This is what happens per protocol of the school when there is a strike," said Bhekane Solomon Mahlangu, chairman of the Local Student Representative Council.
Feedback from campus management is being awaited and once received will be published on