ALMOST 80 students protesting at the Waterberg Technical Vocational Education and Training College (TVET) in Mahwelereng had to be dispersed by police through the use of rubber bullets on Monday.
Several students were arrested for malicious damage to property.
At the heart of the protest, which students claimed was “peaceful”, is funding through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in the form of bursaries. This results in students being unable to pay for transport, accommodation, stationery and meals.
Further cause for students’ dissatisfaction was the compulsory carrying of identity documents (ID’s) in order to access the premises.
Percy Nketse, chairperson of the Mogalakwena Residents Association (MRA) has also expressed dissatisfaction at the situation, saying the problem with NSFAS bursaries has been ongoing since 2011.
“Also, it is required that students present their ID’s to attend classes as no student cards were issued,” he said.
It seemed poor communication between college management and the students led to the riot on Monday morning.
Selaelo Lekoloane, TVET College principal, said what exacerbated the situation at this point is that students didn’t make management aware of their grievances ahead of the protest.
According to Capt Steve Mabuza, from the Mahwelereng police, students blocked off the entrance to the premises on Monday in an attempt to force management to listen to their demands.
The Mahwelereng police were called in to restore order and to escort lecturers and college staff, who had been trapped in their offices, off the premises. According to Mabuza, students pelted stones at the police and damage was done to several vehicles, including those of lecturers.
“One of the police officers was struck in the face and was taken to the Mokopane Hospital to receive stitches.
“Students made their way to the business college, where they forced down the closure of the campus, damaged the security room and stole a cellphone belonging to the security company.”
Mabuza said the police condemned these acts of violence and he called upon the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the management of the college to resolve their differences without the use of violence.
Nketse maintained the students were protesting peacefully, “only singing revolutionary songs”. “Upon the police’s arrival, instead of asking what the problem was, they simply arrested students. At the rate they were shooting, one would have thought they were at a shooting range.”
The SRC wished not to comment on the events. The students appeared in the Mokerong magistrate’s court on Tuesday. The matter was postponed to April 10.
College management and the SRC were in discussions around the issue by the time of going to print.
