Update

GEORGE NEWS - Students of Africa Skills training college in Thembalethu last week received a stipend payment from Ceta (Construction Education and Training Authority) after a wait of about two months.

Ceta COO Innocent Ngenzi confirmed this days after the communications officer did not respond to a query from the George Herald.

The newspaper reported last week that students had gathered in protest at the Africa Skills training facility in Thembalethu after not receiving their stipends for March and April. Promises earlier in April that their March stipend would be paid, had by the middle of last week not realised.

Phumllani Gqozana, the plumbing students' trade leader, confirmed that they eventually received a payment last week, but only for one month. Their April stipend is still due. "We have a problem with that.

"We were promised that we will receive a back payment on 25 May, but we are unsure if this will be a double payment (for April and May). The students were threatened that if we continue protesting our contracts would be cancelled. So what do we do?"

He had said previously that students were in a predicament as they could not pay their rent. Some had been evicted from their accommodation.

Comment from Africa Skills is being awaited. Last week the college said it has nothing to do with stipend payments. The money comes directly from Ceta.

Read a previous article: Students upset about non-payment of stipends

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