‘Fed up’ Safetsa to shut down 265 TVET college campuses

The South African Further Education and Training Student Association (Safetsa) announced a complete shutdown of 265 campuses of all 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges throughout the country by Thursday morning.

Safetsa president Yonke Twani said this decision was taken at their fourth national executive committee (NEC) meeting on December 8 last year, where Student Representative Council members from 50 colleges were present.

Twani was addressing journalists at a briefing in Pretoria hosted by the National Press Club.

“It is time the DHET takes us serious. We will not back down.”

He also said Safetsa supports the fees must fall movement and stands in solidarity with them.

Twani, however, asked students not to damage any property, but instead protect it from thugs.

“You are the custodians of these institutions and we will need these buildings again after our fight,” he said.

He said at the NEC meeting they deliberated on a number of sector-related issues including the issue of the shutdown, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), the out-dated TVET curriculum, expansion in terms of student enrolment, skills development, corruption, nepotism and maladministration, unqualified lecturers and the recognition of student political formations.

Twani said that one of their biggest challenges is NSFAS and the delay of transport and accommodation allowances.

“Their unemployed parents, grandparents and guardians are victims of loan sharks to enable their children to travel to campus and pay the exorbitant rent in private accommodation.

“Some students have resorted to prostitution in order for them to pay their landlords,” he said.

According to Safetsa, the only thing that would put a stop to the shutdown is if the DHET signs an agreement to immediately solve the critical issues:

• Delay of results and pending certificates since 2012
• Insufficient NSFAS funding and the delay of accommodation and transport allowances
• Poor infrastructure development
• Unqualified lecturers
• Student victimisation.

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.