By California Dube
Tshwane University of Technology has announced that it has recommenced with activities. This came after the suspension of academic activities at the Pretoria, Arts, Arcadia and Soshanguve campuses due to a student protest.
It would be recalled that classes were suspended in certain campuses because of protests by students over a number of issues, including the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) off-campus accommodation payments.
As previously reported, the EFFSC Soshanguve Secretary-General, Albert Mayza Baloyi stated that students were only appealing to the institution to release the off-campus accommodation allowances so that they can be able to pay outstanding rent instead of constraining them to occupy accredited residences.
However, a statement that was signed and released by the TUT Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Lourens Van Staden, disclosed that students living in private off-campus accommodation can only qualify for an accommodation allowance if they reside in the university-accredited accommodation.
Moreover, the statement also added that “If students are to be supported with accommodation allowances, the institution will be required to formally accredit private accommodation.” Therefore, the institution announced that students who do not reside in the university’s accredited private accommodation will only receive transport and living allowance.
Nevertheless, the protest action sustained and left the university with no choice but to put a court interdict in place to prevent any party or parties from disrupting the daily activities, academic activities and other operations of the University at any of its campuses.
According to TUT, this resolution was taken to make certain that no more time is lost and give students an opportunity to complete the 2020 academic year.
