Vredenburg students enrolled in learnership programmes at Elgin Community College in Grabouw have raised concerns over delayed stipend payments, with some learners saying they have been waiting since May to receive money they rely on to attend classes and support their families.

Several students contacted Weslander to express their frustration, claiming they have received little communication about the outstanding payments and, in some cases, have been given repeated assurances that the money would be paid the following week.

One student, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said she had been studying at the college for three months and was entering her fourth month.“I have been waiting for my May and June stipends, and I am desperate to receive the money as soon as possible,” she said.

According to the student, the delays have had a significant impact on her ability to attend classes and support her family.“I wasn’t able to go to class because of the delayed stipend. We weren’t able to buy the things we needed at home, and I wasn’t able to look after my mother and my sister for two months,” she said.

The student also claimed that she had struggled to get answers from the college regarding the outstanding payments. “They didn’t give me any explanation about the stipend. When I sent emails about the stipend, they didn’t reply. The receptionist told me she was going to block me if I sent any more messages,” she said. “When I called, they told me to send my proof of account. I sent it multiple times, but still nothing happened.”

The student said her priority, along with that of other learners, was to receive the outstanding money so that they could return to class and continue supporting their families.

Another student said she had also been waiting for her stipend since May and was frustrated by what she described as repeated delays and a lack of clear communication. According to the student, she had received “nothing but excuses” when enquiring about the payment.

“When I signed my contract, they asked us to bring our bank statements, which we did. Then, in June, they said they needed my bank confirmation letter, and I emailed them everything,” she said.

The student said she had repeatedly contacted the college but had not received a clear explanation for the delay. “There’s no explanation. Every time I call them, they say it will be next week or this week,” she said. She added that learners had exhausted the avenues available to them in an effort to resolve the matter. “We’ve tried everything in our power to fight for our money,” she said.

However, Rowan Garnad, Project Manager at Elgin Community College Grabouw, said learners had been paid during the first week of August after the college received the necessary funding late. “Some learners did not receive their May payment because they submitted their required confirmation details after the submission deadline,” Garnad said.

He said all outstanding stipend queries had been escalated and were receiving urgent attention. “The college remains committed to ensuring that learners receive their stipends on time. However, it is important to note that this is public funding and is subject to stringent verification processes. The college does not have control over the timeframes involved in the payment process,” he said.

Garnad added that the college continued to communicate with learners regarding their stipends and related queries. “The college is also dependent on the timely receipt of funding to support its daily operations,” he said.

Despite the college’s response, students who spoke to Weslander said they had still not received their outstanding funds and remained disappointed by what they described as a lack of communication.