MORE than 100 students from the eThekwini TVET College, Umbilo campus protested by blocking the road with stones this morning over a litany of issues.
Rubber bullets and stun grenades could be heard along Umbilo Road as students tussled with private security officers and later SAPS.
According to students who spoke to Berea Mail, the main issues of contention were the slow disbursements of NSFAS allowances; a high rate of lecturer absenteeism; a shortage of computers; no campus WiFi and a general dislike of the college’s management style.
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Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, SAPS spokesperson confirmed that students had blocked the entrance to the Umbilo campus with stones at around 11am on Monday.
“The situation is calm at the moment and no injuries or damages have been reported. Members are monitoring the area,” she said
Mlungisi Gasa, a first year student of Transport and Logistics said he was unhappy because he had taken two taxis to get to school only for classes to be cancelled.
“I am confused about why the strike has not ended. It has gone on for too long now and at some point we have to start studying,” he said.
The Umbilo campus only offers Transport and Logistics as a course, but students say they are not happy with how the course is run.
“We have never even been taken once to the harbour to see their logistical operations and get an idea of how things work. This is a college, it should be focused more on the practical stuff but all we get here is endless theory and notes,” said Sabelo Nzala, a final year student.
“We don’t believe we are being taken seriously. The lecturers barely show up and when they do, there’s no guidance or explanation of the course work. You are just told to read this page here and done,” said Heavy Mkhwanazi, another final year student.
Berea Mail is still waiting on a response from the College to questions around today’s protest.
In the meantime, classes remain suspended indefinitely.
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