Vice-Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela says Rhodes needs a sustainable, long-term solution to the problem of cash-strapped students needing accommodation during university holidays.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela says Rhodes needs a sustainable, long-term solution to the problem of cash-strapped students needing accommodation during university holidays.
Rhodes University on Wednesday 25 March agreed to inform students about assistance available to them for accommodation and travel expenses for the upcoming vacation.
This was in response to a memorandum delivered to the administration by members of the Black Student Movement on Tuesday 24 March.
The students threatened to occupy the main administration building unless a R3 900 residence vacation fee was waived for those remaining in Grahamstown.
They demanded a response by 5pm on Wednesday.
The University responded, saying they would assist all students who approach them.
In an email to those the Black Student Movement had identified for assistance, member Jonis Alasow wrote, "“The Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the university, has agreed to provide the necessary support in terms of accommodation/travel assistance.”
The University would communicate directly with the affected students, Alasow said.
“Those who wish to take the university up on its offer can approach the Director of Student Affairs division, the VC’s office or the SRC,” said Alasow.
Tuesday's protest followed a flurry of activity on social media, complaining that for the University to charge R3 900 for accommodation during the vacation was unaffordable and unfair.
This positive response from the University has removed the threat set down by the BSM to occupy the administration building.
The SRC said the assistance the University offered was not a new development.
"It's been a long-standing system, said Abi Butcher, Secretary General of the Student Representative Council.
"They [the Division of Student Affairs]evaluate on a case by case basis."
Student Affairs consider the cheapest options with regard to each student and use money from a budget allocated to them for this specific purpose.
"They [the Division]decide if it is cheaper to send a student home or to a relative who is closer," said Butcher.
As more students from disadvantaged backgrounds come to the University, so more assistance is required with vacation accommodation or travel. As a result, there have been significant strains on the budget in recent years.
The SRC met with the vice-chancellor yesterday to discuss the solution for this vacation and have planned to meet again after the holiday to discuss a longer-term solution for the September vacation.
In a circular to Rhodes University staff on Thursday 26 March, Mabizela outlined the events of the week and said he had assured the Black Student Movement that the University was sympathetic to the legitimate need of students from poor families.
"We acknowledge that as we advance our objective of making Rhodes University accessible to students from poor, rural and working class families, we cannot continue to deal with this issue of vac accommodation in an ad hoc manner," Mabizela wrote to staff.
"We need to draw on the collective wisdom of our University in order to develop a long-term and sustainable mechanism to meet this transformation challenge."
