All the protest drama
Entrances barred as protesting students demand grievances are addressed
PROTESTING students at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) have vowed to continue with a shutdown of all four Port Elizabeth campuses today until their demands are met.
The protest started early yesterday morning with scores of students marching down University Way in Summerstrand.
Burnt traffic cones and tree branches were used to block the entrances of the north and south campuses.
NMU security staff spent most of the morning redirecting vehicles trying to access the campuses.
Demands of the protesting students include that:
ý The university put pressure on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to make the delayed payments for student accommodation, meals, textbooks, transport and other relevant support material; ý Security is beefed up; and ý The university gets more shuttles for students living off campus.
SRC president Bamanye Mtiwane said the protest was meant to highlight the plight of students who had yet to receive their NSFAS funding.
“Students are expected to write on empty stomachs and without textbooks or the necessary study material and student safety.”
He said there would be no exams, tests or assignments submitted during the shutdown.
“Communications have been sent out and deadlines will be postponed,” he said.
Charmaine Ndlovu, 19, a secondyear bachelor of arts student who has a NSFAS loan, said she supported the protest.
“I was not affected by the shutdown because I did not have any submissions or tests, but we came because of the issues we as students are facing,” she said.
A third-year pharmacy student, who asked not to be named, said: “We were supposed to have our hospital rotation as part of our practical, but now we cannot because of the shutdown.”
But despite the shutdown, some students still tried to meet their assignment deadlines.
Mokgeti Machete, 24, a first-year architecture student, said he was happy to get an extension on his assignment.
“The general feeling is that everyone is rather excited about the extra time to submit assignments.”
NSFAS spokesman Kagisho Mamabolo said: “We are concerned and alarmed by these latest protests due to the fact that we have made two upfront payments totalling R88 449 080 to the institution so far, and a third, of R77 392 945, was made [yesterday].
“In addition we have made sBux [vouchers sent to a student’s cellphone] upfront payments totalling R10 187 380 to first-time entrance students, and R25 421 008 to returning students.”
He said those payments were for books, meal and travel allowances.
“The institution submitted its final registration data and therefore we will follow all proper procedures before any payment is made to the institution or students.”
NMU spokeswoman Zandile Mbabela said the university remained resolute in its commitment to creating enabling conditions to ensure access and success for students across the board, particularly those from poor and workingclass backgrounds.
After meeting yesterday with the SRC, management had resolved to:
ý Provide emergency financial support for qualifying and NSFASfunded students – who are still waiting for the funds to flow from NSFAS – to enable them to purchase food and books;
ý Adjust the test and assignment programme affected by the protest and offer the necessary support to ensure missed tests and assignments were duly concluded;
ý Teaching, learning and research and all support functions would proceed as normal;
ý Those who wished to protest be allowed to provided it was peaceful, did not infringe on the constitutional rights of others, nor transgress the law; and
ý Those wishing to submit a petition to the university leadership would be welcome to do so.