TUT strikes again
Different political organisations from TUT have delivered a second memorandum to higher education authorities to demand free university education.
A second memorandum in as many days was delivered to the office of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande on Tuesday to demand free university education.
The march on the minister’s Pretoria office organised by students of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) was supported by students from other universities.
More than 100 students sought to convey to Nzimande that they wanted fee-free universities after students were blocked from registering because the Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) did not settle their fees from last year.
EFF leader from the Durban University of Technology, Genius Tshabangu, said he came to show his support for TUT students because this was a problem university students faced all over South Africa.
“Since the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has failed to accommodate students of the Republic of South Africa, we demand free education,” he said.
Student activist Raymond Hlungwani said it was sad to learn that about two 2 000 students had qualified to graduate but could not do so because NSFAS had failed to fund them.
“The minister must intervene. Our graduates cannot get proper employment because they owe TUT,” he said.
South African Democratic Students Movement (SADESMO) provincial leader, Sthembiso Shandu dismissed allegations that the protests were intended to interrupt classes at the university.
“Allegations that we want to interrupt classes are lies. Our issue is not with TUT; our issue is with the department. NSFAS is led by government and Blade Nzimande is responsible for funding NSFAS.”
Higher education spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana said free education was something the department was planning to put into effect.
“But the reality of the situation is that the national fiscal does not permit the adequate amount that can enable free education now,” he said.
Nkwanyana said the department had allocated R9.5 billion to the NSFAS to help over 405 000 students in FET colleges and universities this year.
Another student leader said if such a commitment had existed indeed, the department should not have waited for the students to approach them.
“We know that such a commitment never existed. When people are hired to protect the image of a department, they will do so in every way,” he said.
Earlier this year, the university was forced to suspend all activities following violent student protests.
Also read: Fee-free universities demanded
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