The incident took place on Sunday night March 10, when a group of people, suspected to be students at the college, set ablaze and damaged facilities over the new National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) accommodation policy. In the past, NSFAS paid students a monthly allowance for accommodation and living expenses.

However, this year, NSFAS transfers the money for accommodation directly to approved housing providers. Students now only receive an allowance for living expenses which has led to a reduction in the amount they receive monthly. NSFAS’s accommodation procedures provide for housing providers to apply to NSFAS to supply student accommodation to a certain standard.

Also read: UPDATE: Shutdown on hold awaiting feedback

“I used to be paid a monthly allowance of R3800 and now I’m only getting about R1200, the rest of the money goes towards accommodation. As a student I don’t think it is fair, I should be given the choice to choose where I want to stay and how much I want to pay,” explained a disgruntled and anonymous student.

Meanwhile, college spokesperson, Given Sebashe, said the college conducted an imbizo with landlords to inform them on the minimum accommodation standards of NSFAS. “When students apply for funding, they choose between the housing facilities approved by NSFAS, so they know beforehand what the situation is.”

Also read: Concerned residents shutdown the streets of Giyani over TUT campus

Sebashe further said that as a result of the violence they have suspended classes in order to clean-up and repair the damages caused. Classes for national vocational certificates will resume on Wednesday, March 20 and for N-courses, classes will resume on Monday, March 18. At the time of print no one was arrested.