Students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have voiced concerns over the lack of communication from the Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative council (SRC) on specific concerns around the accommodation problems that students experience. This was according to Makha Mntungwas, a first-year student studying BA (Humanities) at SU.
A poster that was put up by Ashleigh Barnes, a second-year student in BA (Visual Arts) at Stellenbosch University (SU). The poster was put up at the Neelsie Student Center to make students aware of the issues that students who rely on funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme were currently facing, said Barnes. PHOTO: Sherie Vollenhoven
This comes after numerous students who had arrived on campus during the first week of February were unable to find formal accommodation due to accommodation shortages.
“I have been going to [the SRC’s] offices three to four times a week,” claimed Alizwa Wotshela, an SU student who acts as representative for SU students living at Solaris Crest, an accredited NSFAS accommodation complex. The list of accredited accommodation is available on SU’s website.
Solaris Crest, a private accommodation complex near Stellenbosch, is accredited with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. PHOTO: Sherie Vollenhoven
According to Wotshela, the SRC has not engaged with NSFAS on issues of the expected shortfall in accommodation allowances as NSFAS indicated that these allocations will be lowered this year.
‘It’s a waiting game’
“We will open up communication,” said Phiwokuhle Qabaka, SRC chairperson, at a meeting held on 8 March on the Rooiplein. The purpose of the 8 March meeting was to “hear the grievances from the students on accommodation, and what they want communicated to NSFAS”, said Qabaka.
Qabaka promised to send out an email on 11 March to NSFAS, listing the grievances that students wanted to be brought under the attention of NSFAS.
“It is a waiting game. All we can do is wait for communication [from NSFAS],” Qabaka told SMF News on 15 March.
Stellenbosch University’s Student Representative Council chairperson, Phiwokuhle Qabaka, held a meeting on 8 March to hear the grievances of students living in private accommodation. PHOTO: Sherie Vollenhoven
Meanwhile, Ashleigh Barnes, second-year BA (Visual Arts) student voiced her concerns about the SRC’s lack of communication on an SU NSFAS WhatsApp group. “[It feels] as though enough is not being done, ‘cause this waiting game is getting old now,” said Barnes on the WhatsApp group.
As of the time of publication, the SRC has not sent the email to NSFAS on issues raised at the meeting.
“The university sent out an email [to NSFAS students] addressing all the issues mentioned at the mass meeting,” said Qabaka when asked about the email. However, according to Wotshela, only “some” NSFAS-funded students received this email.
Fellow students show their support
Earlier in March, second-year Visual Arts students showed their support for NSFAS students, when they created posters about the struggles of NSFAS students. These posters were put up on the Rooiplein on 6 March, said Barnes.
“The posters were put up to make other students aware [of the issues NSFAS students are facing],” said Barnes, who orchestrated the project. The posters included the SRC official stamp.
“The SRC wanted to show their support for the posters,” said Qabaka.