Student protesters bring traffic in CBD to a standstill

MBOMBELA – Traffic was disrupted on Friday morning in the CBD when student protesters blocked Bell Street with rocks outside Ehlanzeni TVET College Corporate Centre. According to Mr Mxolisi Nzimande, media communications manager of Ehlanzeni TVET College, the issue was resolved on Friday afternoon between executive management of the college and student representative council (SRC) leadership.

He said NSFAS funding is for all students who meet the requirements of the bursary scheme which expects them to perform academically, and that more than 71 per cent of those at Ehlanzeni TVET College are granted funds through the scheme. It seems, however, that NSFAS has inadequate funds for the 2016 academic year.

“It’s a national crisis. The college is working with its stakeholders and Skills Education Training Authorities (Setas) to ensure that the students receive funding. The college will ask further stakeholders and Setas to come on board,” Nzimande said.

See Lowvelder’s earlier report on the student protest:  Students protesters disrupt traffic in CBD over student funding

When asked why the students had blocked the road with rocks, former SRC president Mr Mxolisi Lubisi said it was because the protesters had been chased out of the boardroom at the college offices and they felt they were not being taken seriously.

“We want management to listen. Every month, we have to come and ask for the money that is owed to us,” he said. “We know they have exhausted their budget but some of these students are from the poorest of the poor. It is exam time at the moment and some of them will not write their papers because they cannot afford to get to the venue.”

Police on the scene requested that the rocks be removed from the road, which student leadership agreed to do.

Also read: Students strike for monthly allowance