Students from the Boland College campus in Strand took to the streets on Monday (24 February) to demand overdue payments from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
They marched outside the campus in Aerodrome Road, Strand chanting freedom songs and displaying posters with such messages as “Give us our money, NSFAS,” “Enough is enough,” and “I am homeless.”
“I am not happy; I want to cry,” said one of the student protesters as she highlighted the plight of her living situation on a poster.
According to the campus’s Student Representative Council (SRC) vice-chairperson, Mogamat Josephs, they were protesting the delay in pending NSFAS application results, delayed NSFAS payments, unpaid accommodation, and a variety of other injustices.
“Students are being evicted as a result of late NSFAS payments, which prevent them from registering,” he said. “Specifically at Strand campus, the SRC has seen a massive drop in student attendance, leading to a high number of student drop-outs.”
The protest was initiated by the South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association (SATVETSA) in the Western Cape. This is a student union within the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, of which Boland College’s SRC forms part.
SRC chairperson Chevolean Speelman Benadie emphasised that the protest was not directed at Boland College, as it is a mere “middle man” between students and the NSFAS.
“That’s why we are protesting outside the gates and why we have kept it a peaceful march,” he said. “We don’t want to cause any damage to our campus.”
The SRC stated students would like to return to classes as soon as possible, but this depended on NSFAS adhering to their demands and resolving all outstanding issues.
