Sefako Makgatho Health Science University (SMU) had to shut its doors as the students blockaded the university entrance demanding that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) pay all outstanding fees.
The students have been protesting since Tuesday and they have vowed to continue with demonstrations until their grievances have been resolved.
SRC Treasure general, Thato Phasha said the students have not received their payment despite a commitment to pay.
“We have been protesting since Tuesday because NSFAS has not been paying our students. The University can’t pay our students when NSFAS has not been paying the university. However, NSFAS did give our institution the confirmation letter that it will pay the institution. With that being said the institution had to pay the student because the institution had received the letter from NSFAS.
“On Tuesday management said they will process everything and on Wednesday the money would be reflected in their account. However, that didn’t happen. Even today there is no money in the students’ account,” she added:
However, the SMU spokesperson, Lusani Netshitomboni insisted that the institution has resolved the student grievances and their allowance has been paid.
“The University has been engaging with NSFAS since January to say there is a problem with NSFAS funded students who are supposed to have been funded already. Three months have gone and nothing really has happened but then the university decided to use its own coffers while NSFAS is waiting to sort out its own things.
“The university is going to ensure that these allowances are paid from its own coffers, which it has already done. This is something that students are aware of. Yesterday the principal issued a statement indicating that the university is going to pay and that has been done,” said Netshitomboni.
This is not the first institution to struggle to get payment from NSFAS. Earlier this year UNISA students also embarked on a strike due to non payment of tuition fees by the student funding body.
Meanwhile, SMU has suspended four students for “breach of the student code of conduct”. Students have threatened to intensify demonstrations if suspension is not lifted.
NSFAS is yet to respond to Newsnote’s enquiries on the matter.
