UPDATE: Unizulu condemns selling of laptops
The selling of laptops and residency shortages have been highlighted by the Unizulu SRC Administrator
UNIVERSITY of Zululand students selling the laptops provided to them via the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), has been strongly condemned by the university’s SRC Administrator, Mayenzeke Chiya.
‘We started the laptop project in conjunction with NSFAS with the aim of assisting the university, because the computer labs cannot accommodate all the students,’ he told the ZO.
Laptops fall under the book/electronic allowance supplied by NSFAS, in which students are given R5 600 annually to purchase any electronic device or text books they require to complete their studies.
‘The students were found selling the laptops which they demanded.
‘We are completely against this practice as it defeats the purpose altogether,’ said Chiya.
Residency
Meanwhile the ongoing issue of insufficient residences on campus has left students outraged.
Of the 17 000 students registered at the university this year, some 5 000 are accommodated in campus residences.
According to university spokesperson Gcina Nhleko, management is in the process of furnishing the new on-campus student residences.
‘Supply chain management procedures must be followed. Students will be allocated rooms as soon as the new residences are furnished.
‘It is expected that the process will be finalised by May, provided there are no interruptions,’ she said.
The university is currently exploring off-campus residence alternatives to alleviate the overflow.
According to Chiya, a property situated close the Central Park area in Empangeni has been identified as a possible option.
‘The property owners applied for accreditation to allow their units to be rented out.
‘I, together with the Dean of Students, the Head of the Housing Department, Chairperson of the Housing Committee and representatives from Physical Planning and Works (PPW), visited the proposed residences and found it to be in good condition.’
While the inspection of the 234 unit property has been completed, the lease agreement between the university and the property holders is yet to be agreed upon.
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