Agitation and fury as a result of delayed Nsfas funds have to lead to students igniting a protest at the University of Limpopo. Students at the University have been calling for action, but to no avail, prompting the South African Union of Students to step in.
On Wednesday, 14 September 2023, students attending the University of Limpopo took to the streets to voice their frustration and anger at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas), as well as the University.
The protests were sparked by the University’s alleged inability to assist its off-campus students in regards to accommodation, as the Nsfas funds meant to cover their living costs were delayed for months.
The students claim they have not received their allowances for months, which has resulted in some of them losing their housing accommodations. They now are demanding the immediate payment of their Nsfas housing allowances for off-campus students.
The protests have lead to the burning of campus buildings, including a security guardhouse and the University’s third entrance.
The students are claiming that they haven’t received their Nsfas allowances for months and have therefore been begging the University to provide some assistance by paying off-campus student accommodation allowances, which still has not been done.
The South African Union of Students (SAUS) has joined forces with the Limpopo students, defending their actions and demands in a statement released on Thursday, the 15th of September, noting with “sheer disgust” at the way these students have been treated.
“Without mincing words, we want to strongly denounce the university and Nsfas for their criminal and inhumane actions. Because it directly contributes to violent acts committed against students, we contend that this behavior is illegal “reads the declaration.
Because the Limpopo students were short on money for several months, they were unable to access safe and secure student housing for the majority of the year. In several cases, some students were even denied entry to the housing altogether.
Because of their dislocation after losing their housing as a result of Nsfas’s delay in cash distribution, several students, according to SAUS, had been sexually assaulted, robbed, and even killed, calling the situation a violation of their human rights.
“This is, therefore, a direct violation of their most basic human rights, such as the right to shelter, dignity, and life itself,” continues the statement.
The blame, SAUS says, should fall on Nsfas, who they feel are directly responsible for the “chaos” and “destruction” that has unfolded.
The Union goes on to state that just because Nsfas has passed off its responsibilities to the University’s Vice-Chancellor, does not free the financial aid provider from its obligations and commitments it made to the qualifying students.
The only behavior SAUS condemns is the destruction of University property, but are still in support of the students making their voices heard.
“The university shunned the endless calls from students to pay out these accommodation allowances, and when the students justifiably took to the streets to effectively demand the protection of their Constitutional rights, they then were met with intimidation, violence, and victimization,” says SAUS.
Additionally, the university’s Registrar Prof Kwena Masha stated that they have received a memorandum of demands from the students and responded within an hour, yet despite this, the protests continued and resulted in further property damage to the institution’s third entrance.
SAUS has also called for the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor who they say has “no regard for human life.”
