Protesters torch Northern Cape TVET College offices
The Northern Cape TVET College offices in Long Street were set alight.
Image: Screengrab / Social Media
EXTENSIVE damage was caused to the Northern Cape Urban Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College offices in Long Street, Kimberley, on Wednesday evening after the building was set alight by protesters.
Passing cars were also pelted with stones.
Long Street was closed to traffic by traffic services and the police from around 6pm, with stun grenades fired to disperse the protesters.
The fire brigade was reportedly prevented from entering, but later managed to extinguish the blaze.
Students had been protesting peacefully in Long Street over delays in receiving their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) payments.
Many have been left stranded, unable to pay rent or study fees.
NSFAS earlier indicated that “transitional challenges” were experienced during the switch to direct payment partners and the subsequent return of this function to NSFAS in the 2024 academic year.
This resulted in a "complex reconciliation process" that was undertaken during the 2025 academic year.
At the beginning of May, NSFAS stated it was nearing completion of the reconciliation process and was committed to resolving outstanding payments.
It aimed to pay monthly TVET allowances for the 2025 academic year by May 25 and process special payments for all unpaid TVET allowances from the 2024 academic year by May 31.
🔥📸 Scroll down to watch videos and view more images of the incident.
The Northern Cape TVET College offices were set alight on Wednesday evening.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo / DFA
Extensive damage was caused to the Northern Cape TVET College offices in Long Street
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo / DFA
Extensive damage was caused to the Northern Cape TVET College offices.
Image: Supplied
The police are monitoring the situation.
Image: Supplied
The fire brigade extinguished the fire at the college offices.
Image: Supplied