Update
MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Following the student protest held at the entrance to the South Cape College (SCC) Mossel Bay Campus, and the arrests of two students due to public violence, the college confirmed that urgent correspondence was sent to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (Nsfas) executive management on Monday 31 August to request immediate clarification on when the outstanding allowances would be processed and paid.
So says Marnus de Klerk, the SCC Mossel Bay Campus’ communications officer, who confirmed that some student representatives had met with the campus management on Monday to address their concerns.
About 150 students had staged a protest outside the campus gates that morning, demanding clarity from SCC and Nsfas, as they were struggling to afford accommodation, tuition and other necessities as beneficiaries of the financial aid scheme.
According to De Klerk, the students’ dissatisfaction stems from months of backdated Nsfas allowance payments.
On 24 August, Nsfas issued a notice informing its beneficiaries that disbursements for September, covering tuition and student allowances, would be issued on 25 August, followed by the disbursement of accommodation funds on the 28th.
However, the students expected to receive three months’ worth of backdated allowances, along with September’s payment, between the 25th and the 28th.
“We fully acknowledge the severe financial strain this delay places on our students regarding living expenses and accommodation commitments, and resolving this matter remains our absolute priority,” says De Klerk.
He said the urgent correspondence the colleged had sent the Nsfas on Monday serves as a means of supporting the students.
“We remain committed to maintaining open lines of communication with student leadership and will update the student body as soon as Nsfas provides formal confirmation on the payment timeline.”
Monday’s student protest was peaceful until some tyres were reportedly set alight, leading to the police, the Mossel Bay Municipality’s law enforcement, the K9 unit, Public Order Protection Unit and the fire department being summoned, and the two students’ arrest.
Previous articles:
- Students arrested following protest at South Cape College
- South Cape College protest: Students set to appear in court
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