Durban TVET colleges “underfunded”

The principal of eThekwini Tvet Colleges has labelled the inadequate funding from government as the cause of the challenges plaguing their campuses.

“We are underfunded. With the money that we get from government, we have strike a balance between the six (Durban) campuses that we have,” said Nkosinathi Mchunu, college principal of eThekwini Tvet Colleges.

This follows a random oversight visit that was conducted by the Democratic Alliance at the Springfield Tvet campus.

Siboniso Sibisi, DA Students Organisation eThekwini Councillor who was accompanying Baxolile Nodada DA MP, raised a number of issues they observed during their oversight visit.

The issues included a lack of safety for students, poor infrastructure, a short number of senior lecturers and outdated school equipment. “In the mechanical engineering lab, the equipment is old.

The engine the students use for practicals is outdated, there are no cars like these anymore,” said Sibisi.

Sibisi also raised the issue of health and the nearby dumping site just outside the college. The rubbish on the site comes from the informal settlements, which Sibisi said are encroaching on the campus.

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When Berea Mail visited the campus, there was no security guard at the front gate and students were walking in and out of the campus.

Mchunu said every person who entered the campus should be validated, have their temperature taken and sanitised before entering. This was not observed by Berea Mail. “We will have to look at that,” responded Mchunu.

Mchunu also accused the DA of trying to score political points because they did not speak to him prior to their oversight visits.

According to the South African constitution, any member of parliament, like Nodada, can visit any organ belonging to the state for an oversight visit.

In terms of the dumping site and the informal settlements outside the campus, Mchunu said they have been trying for years to sort the matter out with the eThekwini Municipality.

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“It is beyond our control. We have spent so much money on fencing but there are still openings,” he said. “We have raised the issue with the municipality, some days they will come and clear up the rubbish but it will be back there again in a day or two.”

Berea Mail sent questions to eThekwini Municipality but had not received any response before publication.  

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