PRAKTISEER – Students at the Sekhukhune FET College CN Phatudi campus were again protesting about several contentious issues.
They demand that their campus, that hasn’t had running tap water for more than three years, be renovated. They are also requesting that their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds be settled.
When Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited the campus on May 14, students anonymously told the paper that the CN Phatudi campus was ill-treated when compared to other Sekhukhune FET campuses.
“The CS Barlow campus in Groblersdal is treated better than ours; they don’t have problems with littering, financial crisis and meals. Our hostels are filthy and we don’t have kitchens,” they said.
They told the paper that because of the unavailability of kitchens, and the campus’s decision to stop offering meals to the hostel dwellers , most students were robbed when they purchased takeaways at night and others even resorted to prostitution to get money for food.
“We demand access to NSFAS for all deserving and qualifying students, and the campus to pay our residence fees. The letter were only paid once this year. Every month we have to strike in order for the management to pay the fees,” they complained.
They also accused management of not having their interests at heart and of enriching themselves with the NSFAS money. “They are seen with expensive cars and suits while our tuition fees are in arrears, we want education, better toilets and this campus must be revamped. It is filthy,” one student remarked.
Steelburger/ Lydenburg News took time to investigate some of these concerns and witnessed the filthy surroundings.
The students toilets were a mess and the residences did not have running water. Students were forced to utilise outside toilets at night.
“We are not safe here, this is a snake park, and we are risking our lives for education. We hope the department of higher education will come to our rescue,” the hostel dwellers said.
Another student called the paper and complained that every time he wanted his financial statement at the campus, he was told there were no data bundles. And since the start of 2014, our source revealed he has never received his statement.
The paper contacted the campus’ central offices in Groblersdal but their phones went unanswered. The paper also failed to get a comment from the National Department of Higher Education before going to print. On Tuesday, May 20, the strike was still continuing.
