Majuba TVET College is crucial in tertiary education within the Newcastle community. However, the institution is no stranger to its students voicing their concerns through protest action, as recently witnessed.
On Friday, 5 April 2024, Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, met with the Student Representative Council (SRC) of Majuba TVET College during his attendance at the Department of Learning (DEL) Jobs Fair in Madadeni.
Aware that the students at Majuba College had concerns relating to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Minister Nzimande, before starting the formal programme, met with the SRC and was supported by NSFAS officials.
According to one of the students, Nzimande was invited to attend the meeting regarding the issues of NSFAS accommodation, the exact payment date of NSFAS, and also to explain why the students’ 2023 outstanding payments had not been settled.
During the engagement, the student pointed out that Nzimande was also asked to explain the problem of Coinvest, which is the payment method students use to get their allowance. Allegedly, some students couldn’t gain access to their funds on the Coinvest platform.
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, upon learning of the students’ concerns, the Minister specifically requested the NSFAS officials to come to Majuba College, with the view to help address the students’ concerns.
Furthermore, the Minister’s meeting with the SRC lasted almost two hours, and the students used the opportunity to raise the following NSFAS-related concerns:
- The Accommodation Pilot Project.
- Outstanding 2023 and 2024 student allowances.
- Changes in the registration status of students.
- Internal issues relating to examinations and the updating of courses offered.
“After listening to the SRC, the Minister thanked the student leadership for their robust but respectful engagement. He further asked the NSFAS officials to continue with the meeting with the SRC, as he had to attend the DEL event,” said the Department.
Additionally, the Minister also undertook to dispatch a team of senior NSFAS and Departmental officials to Majuba College to ensure that the concerns of the students are fully resolved.
While the Minister was meeting the SRC, there were attempts by some student formations to disrupt the event.
According to a student, the protest action stemmed from the fact that some students believed the meeting didn’t go as planned.
“The students were very angry and crying, because they have to go school every day with an empty stomach and some were kicked out by their landlords because they didn’t pay on time. So, the students of Majuba TVET College started to protest outside of the gate of the campus because they were not getting answers from Dr Blade Nzimande,” said the student, who added that the SAPS put an end to the protest action by taking some students into custody and also allegedly shot rubber bullets into the crowd.
In response, the Department stated that Minister Nzimande condemned the irresponsible and thuggish behaviour of these student formations who staged the disruptions and commended the police for their action, in ensuring the safety of students, staff and college property.
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