Jabulani Mathonsi
After the interruption of lectures by the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Economic Freedom Fighters Students Command (EFFSC) on Tuesday, the body went on to hold a peaceful march in the university’s Steve Biko Campus. They say this is because the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) hasn’t yet disbursed allowances that were due on May 2.
“In order for DUT to act, there has to be a reaction from students, DUT is like that, they don’t respond to mere talking,” said EFFSC’s Unathi Tambodala.
Those marching say it is not an interruption of learning in the university, but a mere show of unhappiness as students are writing tests without receiving these allowances as it is test week at DUT. They’re worried that many students would be writing on empty stomachs as they wouldn’t have alternative means to cover for the unpaid NSFAS allowances.
“We’re not striking, we’re just upset students who are trying to get their allowances,” Tambodala added.
According to the Financial Aid office, about 1700 students received emails that NSFAS has defunded them.
Third year Commercial Photography student, Amahle Mbandlwa, says he didn’t receive his allowances in April as well after receiving such an email. He says that he’s surviving because his entrepreneurship spirit.
“I always go to the finance offices on campus, but I receive no help. It’s really hard for me. Imagine it’s hard even when you do receive a monthly allowance. Thankfully, at the beginning of the year, I thought of selling snowball cakes in my residence. The profit that I make helps me a little so I can buy food,” said Mbandlwa.
Early on Tuesday morning, the students had received an email for the financial aid office to say that their allowances were to be released on the day “Not receiving our allowances on time affects our minds in a bad way, because we always overthink about when we will receive our allowances. It even becomes harder to study for a test when you’re hungry,” said third year student, Thembalethu Bhengu.
Tests that were supposed to be written on the day were shifted online on a later date in the week. “Although, the strike interrupted us from writing, I’m glad that it happened because I will use this chance to prepare myself even more,” said Industrial Engineering student, Themba Radebe.
“We need to eat in order to study for our tests, right now it’s hard to even concentrate. I am also stressing because students are being defunded, and I am afraid maybe I am going to be defunded as well,” added Radebe.
Durban Metro Police were present during the protest to monitor the situation as protest action earlier in the year led to damage to infrastructure.
