An emblattled University of Fort Hare management, led by vice-chancellor Mvuyo Tom were pelted with a few empty water bottles and crumpled papers after an open-air meeting with protesting students ended in disarray yesterday.Tempers on the Alice campus ran high as students presented a united front across all major political party lines to demand a zero fee increase for next year and put forward a comprehensive list of demands, most of them aimed at putting an end to alleged financial cheating with National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and bursary money.
Tom and a team of 15 managers sat encircled by about 1000 students who listened to a combative exchange between SRC members and the administration, with students interjecting by booing and shouting “Haai!” and “Yuu!” when managers argued their case.
Students demanded a week’s extension on exams, immediate capture of all students on the university’s student database (Elaf), and no fee increases.
Tom stuck to his procedural guns saying he was bound by UFH statutes on fees and that these would have to be approved by Council.
Students demanded that he decide “Now!” to scrap a 10% increase on 2016 tuition fees, 15% for science and agriculture, and a staggering 60% increase in residence fees.
They said residences were poorly renovated, in a filthy state, baby food bottles were used in labs instead of beakers and they demanded to know why, at this late hour, at least 12 students who had already written mid-year exams were still not captured on the Elaf system.
Tom and his officials, among them dean of students Brian Gallant and student aid manager Grant Skinnec, promised that outstanding bursary money would be paid over by Friday when all students would be captured on the university database.
The meeting was chaotic, and when Tom referred to adults having to fill in and present authentic forms in life if ever corruption was to be ended, students erupted with derision and disbelief.
Tom said he was not saying they were corrupt, but he did say that some students were “double dipping” into bursary funds.
Tom announced that the controversial Elaf student data capture system would be abolished by 2017, but SRC president Busisiwe Mashiqa, speaking with a bullhorn just over a metre from Tom’s ear, said: “It was your decision to set up Elaf. You did not have to.”
It was unclear if exams would go ahead as students demanded an extra week of study time because of the financial woes caused by the financial crisis.
Tom and his team battled to push their way past the agitated students and, as they entered the rear entrance of the administration block, bottles starting flying.
Earlier, students in DA, Sasco, EFF and Pasma T-shirts lined up to tell the Daily Dispatch about the alleged informal system of fee rip-offs where students did not receive their full NSFAS money, and still ended up owing UFH for next year’s registration.
Fort Hare students hot under the collar over hike
Tempers on the Alice campus ran high as students presented a united front across all major political party lines to demand a zero fee increase for next year and put forward a comprehensive list of demands, most of them aimed at putting an end to alleged financial cheating with National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and bursary money.
Tom and a team of 15 managers sat encircled by about 1000 students who listened to a combative exchange between SRC members and the administration, with students interjecting by booing and shouting “Haai!” and “Yuu!” when managers argued their case.
Students demanded a week’s extension on exams, immediate capture of all students on the university’s student database (Elaf), and no fee increases.
Tom stuck to his procedural guns saying he was bound by UFH statutes on fees and that these would have to be approved by Council.
Students demanded that he decide “Now!” to scrap a 10% increase on 2016 tuition fees, 15% for science and agriculture, and a staggering 60% increase in residence fees.
They said residences were poorly renovated, in a filthy state, baby food bottles were used in labs instead of beakers and they demanded to know why, at this late hour, at least 12 students who had already written mid-year exams were still not captured on the Elaf system.
Tom and his officials, among them dean of students Brian Gallant and student aid manager Grant Skinnec, promised that outstanding bursary money would be paid over by Friday when all students would be captured on the university database.
The meeting was chaotic, and when Tom referred to adults having to fill in and present authentic forms in life if ever corruption was to be ended, students erupted with derision and disbelief.
Tom said he was not saying they were corrupt, but he did say that some students were “double dipping” into bursary funds.
Tom announced that the controversial Elaf student data capture system would be abolished by 2017, but SRC president Busisiwe Mashiqa, speaking with a bullhorn just over a metre from Tom’s ear, said: “It was your decision to set up Elaf. You did not have to.”
It was unclear if exams would go ahead as students demanded an extra week of study time because of the financial woes caused by the financial crisis.
Tom and his team battled to push their way past the agitated students and, as they entered the rear entrance of the administration block, bottles starting flying.
Earlier, students in DA, Sasco, EFF and Pasma T-shirts lined up to tell the Daily Dispatch about the alleged informal system of fee rip-offs where students did not receive their full NSFAS money, and still ended up owing UFH for next year’s registration.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos