The black students at the Namaqualand Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College disputed the allegation of theft.
This follows black students residing in Nababeep hostel that bagged allegations of basic needs theft in Springbok shops last month.
According to sources, the black students have resorted to theft due to falling behind on rent payments and lacking necessities.
This has led to local community members being wary of accommodating students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The students said the fight for survival continues as they await the NSFAS.
The college has commenced its second semester in July with about 300 students registered – returning, and new.
Those from other provinces are failing to pay rent, transport, buy toiletry, and food.
According to students, landlords are getting agitated due to two months late payment, leaving them to seek alternative places to hide their heads for the night as others are forced to squatter at their friends.
“Life is getting unbearable as one has to think, where to sleep and what to eat, mid of seeking to better our lives by empowering ourselves with education but that journey to obtaining the qualification is full of thorns,” said one student.
A 21-year-old female student said they domestically immigrated to seek better postures, but the grass is not green on the other side.
“The experience of fighting for survival in a foreign town being far from home is not pleasing. The language is a barrier itself further we as girls feel unsafe to be wandering the dusty streets of Namakwa anything can happen,” she said.
According to Freeman Nomvalo, the NSFAS administrator, the program has been able to consistently process payments for each beneficiary who has provided their banking information.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday about the progress made in carrying out his mandate, Nomvalo emphasized that moving the TVET NSFAS beneficiaries to a direct payment system via their banker was one of the new administration’s urgent interventions.
According to Nomvalo, the data obtained indicates that approximately 6% of students do not receive their allowance because they failed the verification process by providing false information, or because they forgot to capture their banking details.
Nomvalo said that despite NSFAS’s attempts to get these students to provide their banking information, the students have not replied.
Tshepang Makhetha, South African Student Congress (SASCO) chairperson in the Northern Cape, speaking to Radio NFM last month, said that they are demanding for NSFAS to make direct payments to student bank accounts.
“We are fighting for student independence and free education in higher education. Students need to be able to practice their adult freedom and be able to make their own decisions”.
Makhetha said NSFAS needs to revise its decision to use a third party for student financial payment.
bh “There is a huge financial loss in using a service provider for which that money could have been utilized to help other young people seeking to better their lives with education. Using the private sector as administration compromises the students,” he said.
“NSFAS is responsible for the implementation of free education. They are postponing their duties by appointing a service provider”.
“On behalf of NSFAS, we wish to express our sincere apologies to the affected students and our colleagues. We are working hard to ensure the 2025 academic year is less burdened with the same issues,” Nomvalo said.
Nomvalo announced that with additional capacity acquired, NSFAS will be communicating with tertiaries and students on final lists, not later than the end of August 2024.
