Allegations of corruption at Ehlanzeni TVET College leads to protests
A large group of students at the Ehlanzeni TVET College protested at the gates of the campus on Tuesday morning to express their frustration for not receiving their NSFAS allowances for the last three months.
A large group of disgruntled students gathered at the entrance to the Ehlanzeni TVET College on Tuesday morning.
According to the Student Representative Council’s (SRC) deputy president, Mondlane Wiseman, they were protesting alleged corruption at the college and were boycotting their exams, scheduled to begin yesterday.
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“Since July we have not received any of our National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowance money. Not the R789 for transport nor the R2097 for accommodation,” said Wiseman.
Thabo Mashaba, a former SRC member and current student, alleges that the management of the college had received the money allocated for transport and accommodation from NSFAS, but has not yet transferred the money to individual student accounts.
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“Management is not assisting us. They just come here, but do not deal with the issues. Last week they told us that the school has no money, so where is the money going?
“How can they expect us to write exams if some students can not even get here?” asked Mashaba.
All students were roused from the on-campus accommodation to join in the protest, but according to the protesters many of their fellow students were unable to attend due to a lack of transport funds.
“We are sick and tired of this top management. We do not want them anymore. They are failing to lead us. We cannot have the same problem for three years now,” said Wiseman.
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“We are boycotting the exams. We are supposed to write today, but we will not because it is time that we are heard,” he told Nelspruit Post yesterday.
“These people at the central office need to be held to account,” said Fezile Nobela, a member of the SRC.
At the time of going to press, neither the TVET College nor the Department of Higher Education had commented on the protest or the allegations made by the students.
