Central SA
CUT students angered by administration inadequacies - VIDEOS─── 14:04 Tue, 22 Mar 2022
Students of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, in Bloemfontein were left fuming as they protested against the alleged maladministration and a lack of student accommodation, amongst other issues.
OFM News reports that images of students were doing the rounds on social media platforms over the weekend, which saw some students squatting outside the main entrance of the University.
The unblocking of all first-year and senior students' accounts, payment of all allowances before classes commence, and accommodation were some of the issues raised by students in a memorandum that was handed to the university in February.
A heavy police presence, including security guards, was visible at the main entrance after it was cordoned off. Shortly after they tried to gain access to the facilities, the police used what sounded like stun grenades to disperse the group of protesting students.
Meanwhile, the CUT spokesperson, Dan Maritz, said representatives of the institution met with NSFAS officials and the Student Representative Council (SRC) last week to address and resolve the allowances of 11 600 students. He says that the management has further committed to make allowance payments to about 2 400 available students by Wednesday 23 March 2022.
According to Maritz, management has further taken note that there are students who are not funded by NFSAS. He says these students are urged to follow the appeal process on the NSFAS portal. Maritz says those who still have challenges accessing the portal, should report to the FFA office for assistance in Welkom: M Block, office 1-5, and Bloemfontein: Lapeng Building, ground floor, room D 17-21.
“The difference between non-accredited and accredited accommodation means accommodation that is NSFAS approved or accredited, which meets certain requirements for university students and the accommodation that is not approved by NFSFAS as it does not meet the requirements. This is a NSFAS policy matter which universities across the country cannot change. However, we at the CUT have applied to NSFAS for a deviation so that students are given attention,” concludes Maritz.
Read more: CUT comes to a standstill
OFM News reported that the CUT campus in Bloemfontein came to a standstill days before their academic year commences. The management at the Central University of Technology (CUT) urged the SRC to provide a list of students that have been affected by the issues they raised in their memorandum.
Read more: CUT to address student issues
This is a developing story.
