Students and landlords have joined forces in tackling what they call the Eastcape Midlands College management's "draconian" approach to the accommodation crisis caused by National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary cuts.
Students and landlords have joined forces in tackling what they call the Eastcape Midlands College management's "draconian" approach to the accommodation crisis caused by National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary cuts.
On Thursday 27 February, they formed a delegation to intervene at the Grahamstown Police Station, after EMC management reportedly threatened to charge students with trespassing.
The College Student Representative Council (SRC) is adamant that this is an issue which requires resolution, especially because the deduction from the promised R1 600 to R550 has been enacted across all eight campuses of the Eastcape Midlands College.
The students have been sleeping on EMC classroom floors at the College but have been ordered to vacate the premises.
The protests started on Monday night and despite HiTec and a police presence, have remained peaceful.
On Wednesday night, some landlords personally bought and delivered supper to the students who were spending the night on classroom floors at the College.
The protests follow ongoing conflict between landlords and the College over who was responsible for paying students' rent.
A number of meetings have been held, involving the South African Students Congress (Sasco), the Department of Higher Education, College management and landlords.
Video: Deneesha Pillay and Megan Flemmit
The College's Student Representative Council (SRC), which has led the protests, is concerned that little has been resolved.
“We are just waiting around; we will sleep here tonight without mattresses," said SRC President, Akhona Buwa on Wednesday. "We really cannot learn under these circumstances.”
On 21 February, landlords issued a memorandum to the management of EMC, arguing that there should be legally-binding lease agreements between landlords and the College.
Sasco Regional Secretary, Mthobisi Buthelezi, agrees with the proposal and is impressed with the landlords' approach.
“They are not necessarily evicting people; not maliciously," he said.
He claims that EMC management ordered students to leave thecampus and told police to arrest those who refused.
Chairperson of the Grahamstown Midlands Landlords Committee, Lungile Mxube, was particularly disturbed by the current situation and dispelled the belief that the students were being ill-treated by the landlords.
“The management has taken a draconian and military stick approach to this situation,” alleged Mxube.
Student Anathi Gongqa believes that EMC management does not care about students. “Everyone will speak for us except for the management," he said. "We will sleep on the streets because they think this is not serious."
On Wednesday afternoon, EMC administration officials refused to speak to Grocott’s Mail.
