Students from uMgungundlovu Tvet College say they have been battling to make ends meet after not receiving their financial aid allowance for two months.
On Monday, a group of disgruntled students blockaded the main gate of the Northdale campus, on Balhambra Way and Newholme Way, with burning tyres demanding their allowance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas). They said they had been suffering for two months without their Nsfas allowance.
The student representative council president, Nomathemba Makhoba, said some students had been evicted by their landlords after failing to pay rent.
Makhoba said:
She said they are writing exams so student had to be on campus. She added that there was no explanation as to why they had not received their allowances.
“Students who are renting had to explain to their landlords but some of landlords don’t understand since it’s been two months without rent. They currently have nowhere else to go but they still have to be at the campus for their exams,” said Makhoba.
She said they submitted a memorandum to the campus manager [on Monday] with their grievances and gave the college 24 hours to respond.
The principal of the uMgungundlovu Tvet College, Ntombi Ntshangase confirmed to The Witness that they received the memorandum from the students.
Ntshangase said: