TVET students submit memorandum of demand
"We need those allowances to be paid within seven days," added Tshegofatsho Phasha, the EFFSC's deputy secretary. The students indicated that they were also without lecturers in some of their courses.
BURGERSFORT – The students of the Sekhukhune TVET College’s Dr CN Phatudi Campus want the student support services (SSS) manager, Ralph Mathoni, to vacate his position.
Hundreds of students from the EFF Student Command (EFFSC) submitted their memorandum of demands on Tuesday. They engaged in a peaceful march at the campus situated in Praktiseer.
Submitting their demands, Promise Skhosana, EFFSC president on the campus, alleged that Mathoni was neglecting student matters at their campus.
“He is undermining the student representative council (SRC), which was elected by the majority of our students. We demand that he vacate his position or move to another institution.” They also demanded that they receive their National Student Financial Aid Scheme allowances.
“The allowances given to students must be the same. We have learners who reside far away from the campus, but they are only given R150, while those residing a few kilometres away are getting R4 000.
“We need those allowances to be paid within seven days,” added Tshegofatsho Phasha, the EFFSC’s deputy secretary. The students indicated that they were also without lecturers in some of their courses.
“In four of our modules, we are without mentors. That has been the case since the start of the academic year. They expect us to write exams and we have not been taught.”
They reiterated that they were being undermined at the institution. “The new SRC leadership is ignored. They do not recognise us. When we try to engage with them, they give us a cold shoulder. There was not even an induction for the new leadership since the elections last month.”
Innocent Mashego, also a student, pleaded with management to ensure that the environment is improved at the campus. “We need proper sanitation and lights. Our toilets are filthy and not maintained.”
The Sekhukhune TVET’s management was given a week to respond to the grievances submitted by the students. Representing the institution, Meshack Motadi assured the protesters that their demands will be discussed by the board at Sekhukhune TVET.
“We will have enough time to respond to these demands. We promise to come back to the students within the stipulated time.”
The students threatened to embark on another protest if their demands are not met.
