KAMHLUSHWA – This week Mlumati FET college students boycotted classes on Monday and Tuesday and barricaded the entrance to the college after management failed to fulfil promises they made last year.
The students complained about the condition of classrooms, workshops, bursaries and renovations at the college.
According to one of the strikers who preferred not to be named, the college management has been making promises since 2012 and students are tired of hearing them every time they meet with them.
“Most of the classrooms and workshops – especially for electrical engineering – are leaking so we are unable to do practical,” said a student who also wished to remain anonymous.
She added that the office admin practical room does not have equipment like copy machines or printers so these students are also unable to do their practical tasks efficiently.
According to the students, management told them that they would meet the contractor who won the tender to renovate the college and that refurbishment would start on January. “In December last year the college management met us and promised to renovate all the buildings of the college, but nothing happened so far. We are tired of the empty promises, the only thing we want is see, is things happening,” said another student.
The Mlumati FETcampus manager, Mr Gideon Sibiya says, they met with the SRC last Friday wherein the RCL requested for building renovation and accommodation.
“After the meeting on Friday we scheduled a meeting for Monday but the students decided to boycott classes. We are willing to sit down with them and listen to their issues and try to help them,” explained Sibiya.
He further mentioned that as they are about to close for holidays, the students who are in level four were supposed to be placed with companies which operate in their fields of study.
The students demanded Sibiya to call the Ehlanzeni FET College CEO, Mr Thabang Dlamini, to come down to the campus on Tuesday.
Dlamini responded to the call and promised that the transport and accommodation would be sorted out by by Friday. However, on Friday the students told Dlamini that they would not stop the strike until they see things happening because they are tired of empty promises. According to the students, after their meeting with the CEO, police entered and assaulted them. Two of them were taken to a doctor.
Tonga Police spokesperson Mr Mzwandile Nyambi denies allegations that students were assaulted. “Police never assaulted anyone. Those who say they were assaulted by police must come to the station and open a case,” said Nyambi.
The college opened a case of malicious damage. No comment was available from Ehlanzeni FET college spokesperson, Mr Mxolisi Nzimande.
