SEDIBENG. – Following complaints and protests from students, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has announced that allowances for approved NSFAS funded students were processed recently. The institution said that for April and May food allowances and learning materials were processed on Friday, 30 April and the last batch of learning material was paid on 03 May. The institution said that SMSs were sent directly to the students by the Finance Department. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Kediemetse Mokotsi, Director: Marketing and Public Relations at VUT said that students apply directly to NSFAS online and are funded by NSFAS and that the institution gets a list of funded students from NSFAS portal. She adds that there are some students who claim that they are funded but are not part of the list on NSFAS portal and that students have a right to follow up directly with NSFAS if they are not on the funded list. “Classes commenced only from April and food allowance was paid from April, the learning materials were delayed while waiting for information of students who applied for laptops. “This process is also done directly on NSFAS portal by students. Payment had to be done in line with the NSFAS funding criteria. Upon receiving NSFAS funding, it is invested and earmarked, withdrawn when financial aid office is going to make payments for NSFAS allowances,” said Mokotsi. When asked why is it that students were being kicked out of campus residences knowing very well that they are still waiting for their allowances Mokotsi said: “Regarding residence, Financial Aid office work with residence team and also share list of funded students. NSFAS funded students/VUT registered students are not kicked out of residences.” Meanwhile three members of the VUT ISRC (Interim Student Representative Committee) have been placed on a temporary suspension pending the disciplinary hearing. The three were apparently suspended from participating in SRC related activities and participation in any protests, meetings or gatherings pending the outcome of the disciplinary hearing. About the suspension of the three Mokotsi said: “All charged students will be notified of the hearing date once all internal procurement processes have been finalised as we use an external Chairperson to preside over our hearings.”
