Violent protests erupted at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) earlier this month. This led the university to suspend the academic year indefinitely and evacuate students from residences.
The indefinite suspension of the academic year forced the university to make changes to its 2023 academic calendar. These changes will impact most CPUT students except for those enrolled in courses in the Education Faculty
CPUT says the protests erupted following an announcement that would result in students being defunded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). NSFAS announced that students studying for less than 60-course credits are longer eligible for certain allowances.
NSFAS says they held engagements with the CPUT Student Representative Council (SRC) a day before the protest. The scheme said several issues affecting students were clarified during the engagement.
The financial aid scheme says they received a memorandum from the protesting students. They add that some of the issues raised in the memorandum are not related to their operations.
We note that very few issues in the memorandum have to do with the sphere of NSFAS operations. We will, however, over and above the engagements we have had with students continue to communicate developments and progress on the issues
Student issues Noted In The Memorandum
- List of funded students
- Direct payment of student allowances
- 60-credits policy
- Close-out process for students with outstanding fees
- Update on the Appeals Process
NSFAS says a major component of the protests aims to stop the new direct payment solution. This payment solution will see NSFAS pay allowances paid directly to students. Previously, the university or university-appointed service providers would distribute allowances to students.
We take a dim view of the increasing involvement of student leaders on matters of service procurement and alleged collaboration with service providers
The financial aid scheme says they have alerted law enforcement agents to determine the causes of instability in the higher education sector. They added that they will continue to policies and decisions within legal and policy provisions.
CPUT recently announced that it submitted an exemption request from the NSFAS direct payment of allowances system. The university is awaiting the outcome of their request.
