TVET students strike for funding
Others, according to the student representative council president, Mxolisi Lubisi, have resorted to prostitution to fund their basic living costs. These are some of the reasons for disruption of classes.
Some students from the Ehlanzeni Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College at Barberton Campus face eviction by their landlords.
Others, according to the student representative council president, Mxolisi Lubisi, have resorted to prostitution to fund their basic living costs.
These are some of the reasons for disruption of classes.
Over 400 joined to protest the lack of government’s National Student Financial Assistance Scheme (NSFAS) funding.
A car belonging to TVET had its window smashed after an attack by the enraged students. Fire extinguishers were destroyed and wood and school furniture lay in flames as the students engaged in a violent protest.
Lubisi said they were forced to resort to this after the management failed to fulfil its promises, following several meetings.
“The guidelines of NSFAS clearly state that students were expected to start to benefit from February 1.
“We gave the management three days (from February 1) to compile a database of all the students and to tell us who qualifies and who does not.
“They dismally failed to do that,” said Lubisi. He said the violent protest was further triggered by management’s failure to address the accommodation and transport issues.
“They promised to sort everything last Friday by 12:00. When students found out that they have since not benefited from the NSFAS after that time, they became irked.
“We have exhausted all revenues that we have. Some students have since resorted to prostitution to fund basic living costs while others had to drop out due to financial constraints,” said Lubisi.
He said if the matter was not resolved, some of the students would be forced to sleep at the campus classes.
“The service providers have made it clear that they were involved in business and if they can’t get their payments before the close of business today (Monday), we must not come back to their residences.”
Mxolisi Ndzimande, TVET spokesman in Mpumalanga couldn’t be reached for comment. Later that day, some students could be still seen roaming around the campus premises.
