Update
GEORGE NEWS - Lectures at the Nelson Mandela Univer-sity George and Gqeberha campuses have by yesterday, Wednesday 22 February, not started after student protest action on Monday 20 February.
At the George campus, students were protesting at the entrance gate from the early morning hours, preventing staff members and non-resident students to enter the grounds.
Only kitchen staff from the dining hall were allowed in to prepare meals. By Wednesday, staff were back on campus.
The students have issues with National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursaries not paying out, which leads to students not being able to register, and consequently also not being able to access campus or off-campus accommodation in George.
Chairperson of the student representative council (SRC) Sinalithemba Kwaza said the university has an accommodation crisis.
"On paper the campus accommodation is full. One hundred new students were admitted while there is space for only 30, so extra accommodation must be found in a hurry." Some students are temporarily "squatting" in the rooms of those who have accommodation in the residences.
Kwaza said some students' applications to NSFAS were rejected on the basis that they had not submitted all the necessary documentation, while they in fact had submitted it. Appeals in such cases can take months, and in the meantime the appellants are unable to attend university.
Another issue is that students who had failed to pass one module of their course last year, are not being allowed to undergo a special assessment (as was the case in the past), but have to repeat the module over the full year.
Furthermore, the university's concessions for students who still have debt in terms of last year's concessions have not been approved. The students feel that those who cannot afford these payments should not be prevented from attending university. Concessions are awarded to certain students to pay off their fees.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the university said its management has been engaging the SRC on several issues that had led to the protest action. "During these engagements, the SRC formally raised students' concerns about funding support and student accommodation, particularly for some postgraduate programmes and advanced diploma studies. University management is preparing a detailed response, which will be communicated in due course."
Motsepe Foundation funds
According to the statement, the SRC, which recently received a R1,3m donation from the Motsepe Foundation, is also considering how to use these funds to assist where it can.
Meeting with NSFAS
The university said its management met with NSFAS on Tuesday to discuss funding shortfall issues, particularly for extended curriculum programme students whose funding does not cover accommodation and living allowances.
"Furthermore, the Strategic Resource Mobilisation and Advancement office and the Office of Research Development are working diligently to supplement funding for postgraduate studies over the medium and long term."
Lectures remain suspended
In the interim, lectures remain suspended, but the university says their resumption are top on the agenda of the Executive Committee of Senate (ECS), that was to meet yesterday.
"Plans are in place to ensure students do not miss out on any aspect of their study programmes."
George Herald has not received a response from NSFAS.
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