Resolve our demands or remain shut, say striking Pretoria students

There was no movement yesterday morning at the Tshwane North College Pretoria campus as the South African Further Education and Training Student Association (Safetsa) entered the first day of its proposed shutdown of 50 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges around the country.

Safetsa deputy president Arrafat Joel said their national executive committee leaders, including student representative council members, were deployed at the country’s 265 campuses to ensure no learning took place.

He advised students who did not want to take part in the protest to “stay home”.

READ MORE: Learner survives mass bee attack

Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande called on formations representing TVET students to engage in discussion with his department and college administration to strengthen and renew efforts to resolve their “legitimate issues”.

He admitted they still had a way to go until TVET colleges were at peak performance in terms of delivering on their mandate of empowering young people.

According to Safetsa, the shutdown would only end if the higher education department agreed to resolve the delay of results and pending certificates since 2012, insufficient funding and the delay of accommodation and transport allowances and poor infrastructure, among other challenges.

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