UCT: Students to Protest over Financial Exclusion After Mass Meeting
- Students at UCT will be demonstrating due to the financial exclusion of certain students at the institution
- Students want to get the word across that there is a lack of funding from NSFAS that excludes many individuals
- The UCT students reportedly held a mass meeting on Thursday to discuss a way forward which resulted in the idea of demonstrations
PAY ATTENTION: Join Briefly News' Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
Students at the University of Cape Town are planning to shut the campus down due to the financial exclusion of some students. The students are focusing on the lack of funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The students held a mass meeting on Thursday with many different topics being discussed. Reports say that the Student Representative Council (SRC) stated that there are around 2 500 students struggling with financial exclusion.
Students from UCT are also calling for Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to resign stating that they had lost confidence in the Minister's ability to ensure students interests are met.
Source: Getty Images
A report by eNCA confirmed that the protest will be happening on Friday, 12 March. Adding that the financial exclusion left many unable to register and afford accommodation. News24 reported that students want UCT to allow students to register for the 2021 academic year despite their historical debt.
In similar news, Briefly.co.za has been reporting on the protests at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits). Recently, EFF student command members took to the streets to protest against financial exclusion.
Wits University students handed over a memorandum of demands in Braamfontein at the Constitutional Court which is believed to be the catalyst for the EFF's rampage. Earlier on Thursday, they handed over a memorandum to ANC Secretary Ace Magashule according to the SABC.
Secretary-General of the EFF Student Command, Muzi Khoza said that the organisation would continue to protest until their demands are met. It has also been reported that South African musician Black Coffee started a conversation to crowdfund students fees. Black Coffee then took to Twitter, where he asked:
"As a country what can we do to assist students with fees...isn't there a way we can collectively create a fund to assist?"
Activist Tumi Sole was one of the first to respond to Coffee's question.
Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!
Source: Briefly News
