Hlomla Mdala and Daniela Botha
A group of students at Stellenbosch University (SU) recently participated in a mass meeting over accommodation and registration issues. The mass meeting, held on SU’s Rooiplein on 19 February, was called by the Student Representative Council (SRC) in a message shared on their social media accounts on 18 February.
The main issues on the agenda were student debt, accommodation, and registration. This is according to Amber Nieuwenheyzen, the treasurer-general of the SRC.
During the meeting, the SRC called for an academic boycott across faculties.
Stellenbosch University students recently gathered on the Rooiplein for a mass meeting after the Student Representative Council (SRC) claimed to have been sidelined in discussions with senior management, according to Rochesia Februarie, head of the SRC National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) task team. PHOTO: Kobus Erasmus
This comes after SU students who are funded through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and who still had outstanding payments, were warned on 31 January by the university’s Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries & Loans (CUBL) that if they do not pay their outstanding fees they would be unable to register.
This was in an email sent to NSFAS-funded students, and that was seen by SMF News.
“I panicked,” said Sinethema Ngcongo, a final year BA (Humanities) student funded by NSFAS, about his response to initial communication by SU stating that he would be unable to register if he did not settle his account. “How do I get R40 000 by that time period?”
Amber Nieuwenheyzen, the treasurer-general of Stellenbosch University’s Student Representative Council, addressing students during a recent mass meeting on the Rooiplein.“What fits one, fits all,” said Niewenheyzen. “We are all experiencing this injustice together.” PHOTO: Jared Moorgas
However, during a meeting between the SRC and the rectorate, held at the end of January, it was agreed that the registration period would be extended and NSFAS students with outstanding fees would be allowed to register, claimed Rochesia Februarie, head of the SRC NSFAS task team.
The last day for registration is 21 February. Many students are still unable to register due to blocks on their accounts not being lifted, said Februarie during the mass meeting.
“Our mission here today is to show the system that even though we have tried to work with you, we have been quiet at the expense of our Maties,” said Nieuwenheyzen during the mass meeting. “From today, we are no longer keeping quiet.”
The SRC has vowed to maintain the academic boycott until the students’ demands have been met, said Nieuwenheyzen.
During a recent mass meeting on Stellenbosch University’s Rooiplein, the Student Representative Council called for a mass meeting. Following the meeting, students marched to all faculties, calling for students to join in and make their voices heard. PHOTO: Hannah Abrahams
“We have been given empty promises,” said Nieuwenheyzen. “We must stand as one. As one we are stronger.”
Meanwhile, accommodation remains an issue for some students. Khanyisile Molaba, a second-year BCom (Accounting) student from Gauteng, can attest to this.
“There is always something wrong when it comes to these accommodation hunts,” said Molaba. “I am using NSFAS, so it becomes hard for me to find a place to stay. Also, on the private accommodation platforms there are a lot of scammers who take students’ money.”
At the time of publication, Stellenbosch University has yet to comment.
In a post on social media on the evening of 19 February, the SRC called for a campus-wide shutdown. Another gathering was due to take place at 8:00 on 20 February, starting at the Rooiplein, according to the post.
This is a developing story.