MPs tell NSFAS to find more money to fund needy students

Mangosuthu University of Technology and the University of Limpopo recently briefed the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training on the recent student protests at both institutions. Students were dissatisfied with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, particularly its inability to secure enough funds for students in financial need. As well, issues of inadequate accommodation, academic exclusion and lack of resources to enable academic success led to the students protesting in these Institutions.

Mr Malose Marakala, President of the Student Representative Council at Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa) in Limpopo informed MPs “the management of the University has failed to communicate with students, they were not available for consultation nor to deliberate on the issues concerning students, hence they protested as a form of voicing their unheard voices”.

Meanwhile, Mr Thobani Mchunu, President of the Student Representative Council at the Mangosuthu University of Technology told MPs that they protested because “as the only university located in a township, which was built to empower the poor students, there are more students depending on NSFAS than any other university in South Africa. Therefore, more money should be available to help the needy students”. This comes after many students were not allowed to carry on studying due to historical debts.

The Committee Chairperson, Ms Phosa (ANC), pleaded with both SRC Presidents to go back to their campuses and negotiate with the University management to find the best possible way to resolves these issues. In addition, the Department of Higher Education and Training will set up a Task Team that will investigate the protests and give recommendations to the committee as a way forward. She also called upon the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to rigorously fund raise in order to ensure that enough funds are available for students to access Higher Education Institutions.

All Members of the Portfolio Committee condemned the protests as they led to infrastructural damage in the campuses. Mr Yusuf Cassim (DA) stated that “university management ought to take student leadership bodies seriously in order to avoid students mobilising and using other mediums of communication to send a message through to management”.

The Portfolio Committee indicated its commitment to intervene in order to immediately resolve the issues raised by the students.