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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - About 50 students protested outside the entrance to the Mossel Bay campus of the South Cape College this morning, 19 March.
The students at the Kreupelhout Street, Heiderand, campus of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college claimed they had been told by staff on 14 March that their accommodation allowance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) would decrease from R42 640 per annum to about R25 000 per annum.
There was a heavy police presence, including officers from George's Public Order Policing (POPS) Unit, monitoring the protest from across the road.
Students protesting at the South Cape College entrance. Photo: Gabriella Siebritz
Students had burned some branches, boxes and plastic bags at the entrance to the campus, however, when Mossel Bay Advertiser arrived at the college, most students were sitting down outside the entrance.
One student, Yamkelani Memani, said the students wanted answers on the alleged decrease in the allowance. He said the students want a meeting with NSFAS and the college and to come to a resolution.
Memani said students were due to start exams on Monday, 24 March, but they would not sit for exams and the strike would continue until they got answers.
Another student, Asisipho Makedini, said she was disappointed. She didn't know if news about the decrease was the truth.
Students had burned some branches, boxes and plastic bags at the entrance to the campus. Photo: Gabriella Siebritz
According to a press statement from NSFAS on 12 March, the accommodation allowance for non-metro TVET students in self-catering accommodation is R42 640 per annum.
The Advertiser has sent questions to NSFAS, South Cape TVET College and the police regarding today's protest and the claims made by the students. An update will be provided as soon as more information becomes available.
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