Students sell Unizulu laptops
Some students are selling their laptops via certain social media sites for cash
CONTROVERSY has once again hit the University of Zululand, this time casting the motives of university students into the spotlight.
While the student ‘Faculty of Council Leadership’ embarked on peaceful protests on campus this week, demanding among other things funds for electronic devices such as laptops, the ZO uncovered that some students are selling their laptops via certain social media sites for cash.
Failure by the university to provide students with ‘promised’ laptops was last year also among the grievances that sparked violent student protests.
This week an anonymous source also indicated that certain students receiving National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds, loan out their ‘Fundi Card’ – provided to students for meal allowances – in exchange for cash.
NSFAS grants were top of the agenda on the protest grievances list handed over to the Dean of Students The university said it has no knowledge of students selling their laptops or loaning out their Fundi Cards for cash.
Regarding NSFAS eligibility criteria, Unizul spokesperson Gcina Nhleko said returning students must meet all scheme requirements.
She said management can confirm that all returning NSFAS students who supplied proof of application and met eligibility criteria have been registered.A number of other issues have emerged.
• Violence
On Monday night, a knife fight erupted between students at West Residence requiring Protection Service Department (PSD) assistance who in turn contacted the SAPS for assistance.
An enraged student who was described to the ZO as becoming ‘mentally unstable over the past few weeks’ resisted arrest, attacked a police officer and was shot in the leg by SAPS before being arrested and taken to Ngwelezana Hospital by ambulance where he was subsequently stabilised.
• Housing Issues
On student housing issues, Nhleko said the university management agreed that students with disabilities should be allocated appropriate rooms.
‘As far as we are aware all disabled students have been allocated appropriate housing, but should there be cases where this has not happened, students must report to the Housing Department so that corrective measures can be taken.
Nhleko said the university is in the process of furnishing the new student residences and students will be allocated rooms as soon as soon as the refurbishment process has been completed.
‘It is expected that this should be finalised by May, provided there are no interruptions.’
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