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“Government will pay the price at polls,” says TUT student leader

todayApril 11, 2024 143

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Student leaders in Pretoria say government will pay the price at the polls if it continues to ignore the plight of their struggling counterparts.

This as students at institutions including UJ, TUT and the University of Limpopo, say they go hungry or are kicked out of residences due to months of non-payment from financial aid scheme, NSFAS.

Students have bemoaned the controversial eZaga payment system, which they say has caused payment delays and irregular cutting of student allowances.

On Monday, students at the South West College in Roodepoort braved the cold Gauteng weather and took to the streets over unpaid allowances.

Classes and exams were disrupted at the institution.

Meanwhile, EFF student command in the Western Cape last week marched to NSFAS offices against what it labelled a “collapsing and corrupt” entity.

eZaga has blamed an issue at NSFAS for delays in some payments, while NSFAS is pointing fingers at certain universities, which it says failed to submit registration data on time.

And as officials continue to play the blame game, suspended TUT student leader Keamogetswe Masike says a national shutdown is on the cards.

He says as long as young people’s cries for decent education are not being heard, then students must head to the streets and not to the polls.

The students have given NSFAS until Friday to ensure April allowance are paid in full.

TUT has declined to comment on the matter. Written by Naomi Kobbie

Written by: Lindiwe Mabena

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