Evicted TVET college students back in residences after protest chaos

CALM has been restored at the Northern Cape Urban TVET College in Kimberley after students allegedly set fire to the central office in Long Street earlier this week following evictions from their residences due to non-payment of rent.

Students have reportedly not received their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances, while landlords indicated that rent had been outstanding for the past six months.

A series of urgent meetings were held on June 5 between college management, NSFAS officials, community leaders, political parties, and other stakeholders.

The SA Police Service is meanwhile investigating a case of arson after the Northern Cape Urban TVET Central campus office in Long Street was set alight on the evening of June 4.

Northern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Mashay Gamieldien said around 300 “disgruntled” students gathered at the office at 4pm on June 4 to demand answers regarding a range of grievances, including outstanding NSFAS payments.

“They started blockading Long Street and pelted employees and the central office building with stones. They also allegedly set the offices on fire, causing damage to the building and its contents,” she stated.

The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade, while the police fired a stun grenade to disperse the crowd. 

“Members of  Kimberley Public Order Police were deployed to the scene and a stun grenade was fired in an attempt to disperse the riotous group. No arrests or injuries were reported. The group dispersed and the police continued to monitor the situation," said Gamieldien.

Homeless and nowhere to go

The student representative council (SRC) said students camped outside the central office on June 4 out of desperation.

“They were left homeless and had nowhere to go. The police were called to fire tear gas at them. Thankfully, no one was injured. They are busy writing their June exams and many were unable to study. There is uncertainty whether they will be able to return next semester because they are still waiting for their NSFAS allowances,” the SRC said.

They added that only a small number of students had received funding, with many unable to even afford basic necessities like toiletries. The SRC also claimed that some residences were dilapidated and that hostel conditions were below acceptable standards.

ANC provincial spokesperson Sandiseni Sithole said the ANC Youth League provincial chairperson, Venus Blennies-Magage, met with students and landlords at Boland College following the incident.

“She escalated the matter to the Department of Higher Education, resulting in the arrival of the NSFAS chief operations co-ordinator in Kimberley on June 5. Arrangements were made to accommodate the evicted students, and a commitment was made to settle all outstanding landlord payments by June 25,” Sithole said.

He noted that one of the reasons for the delayed payments was that some landlords had not been verified. A forum will now be established to include college management, student representatives, stakeholders, and community members, which will meet every two months to address emerging challenges.

“We do not condone the arson attack, but we are confident that the matter will be speedily resolved. Leaving vulnerable students on the streets exposes them to risks, including gender-based violence and femicide,” he added.

Concession granted

The Northern Cape Urban TVET student services structure manager, Boston Lecholo, said a concession had been granted to fast-track payments to landlords within the next two weeks.

“Delays were caused by technical issues, with incorrect tariffs set, and there were problems with vetting and grading. However, all problems have been sorted out,” he said.

Lecholo confirmed that an assessment will be conducted to determine the extent of the damage to the central office.

Public Servants Association (PSA) provincial manager Steve Ledibane said the violence could have been avoided.

“Students had been demonstrating peacefully at the central office since June 2 and their pleas for help were ignored. It is concerning that the situation had to escalate to violence before any action was taken.” 

He also questioned the college’s spending, citing R12 million reportedly spent on a gate at one campus.

“Millions were also spent on four water tanks at the City, Moremogolo and Phatsimang campuses, which are reportedly not operational.” 

Ledibane proposed renovating the Phatsimang hostels to house up to 200 students.

Extreme actions not the solution

The DA deputy spokesperson on higher education, Desiree van der Walt, condemned the extreme actions taken by students.

“Students were placed in an impossible position due to delays in the receipt of their NSFAS allowances, but burning and breaking TVET College offices and campuses will never solve the problems NSFAS has created,” she said. 

“The burning of TVET offices will only further hamper the students’ end goal. 

“Their frustration due to the delays while NSFAS tries to complete its 'reconciliation process', which became necessary after the switch from direct payment partners back to NSFAS, is now boiling over. NSFAS must rapidly complete this process in such a way that causes no suffering to vulnerable students. Payment cannot be withheld any longer.” 

She called for urgent intervention to prevent students from being left destitute and unable to complete their studies.

FF+ provincial leader Dr Wynand Boshoff added that the increasing number of students not receiving NSFAS allowances is turning into a national crisis.

“These funds have become a social safety net that is not achieving its intended purpose,” he said.