Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has paid an amount of more than R8.3-million to two Eastern Cape universities for damages incurred during student protests.
Nzimande revealed that his department contributed R40.496-million towards damages at five historical disadvantaged institutions (HDI) incurred during the #FeesMustFall protests.
These included UFH, which received R8-million, and R351287 to Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
The minister said the department was in the process of investigating which universities will be lodging insurance claims to cover some of the costs of damage.
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) spokesman, Khaye Nkwanyana, said R40-million was left over from the HDI grant after R362-million was allocated to HDI universities for the zero-fee increase this year.
WSU spokeswoman Yonela Tukwayo confirmed the institution had received the funding.
“Notably the amount received does not cover the full cost of damages incurred.
The university has done most of the repairs or maintenance already from its own maintenance budget.
“The insurance does not cover all the cost as some items are less than the access amount payable,” Tukwayo said.
She said the university was still awaiting the insurance pay-out.
Tukwayo last month said when initial figures of damages were released by Nzimande in parliament, most of the damages were incurred at the Mthatha and Butterworth campuses. She said some of the costs were to be covered by insurance, while others would be covered by the university.
At the time, UFH had not made submissions to DHET for damage claims. Asked how the department arrived at the figure of R8-million for the University of Fort Hare, Nkwanyana said: “The amount of R8-million for UFH was estimated at the time of allocation and was not included in the April response to parliament”.
UFH had not responded to questions at the time of writing yesterday. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
UFH, Walter Sisulu receive R8.3m for protest damage
Nzimande revealed that his department contributed R40.496-million towards damages at five historical disadvantaged institutions (HDI) incurred during the #FeesMustFall protests.
These included UFH, which received R8-million, and R351287 to Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
The minister said the department was in the process of investigating which universities will be lodging insurance claims to cover some of the costs of damage.
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) spokesman, Khaye Nkwanyana, said R40-million was left over from the HDI grant after R362-million was allocated to HDI universities for the zero-fee increase this year.
WSU spokeswoman Yonela Tukwayo confirmed the institution had received the funding.
“Notably the amount received does not cover the full cost of damages incurred.
The university has done most of the repairs or maintenance already from its own maintenance budget.
“The insurance does not cover all the cost as some items are less than the access amount payable,” Tukwayo said.
She said the university was still awaiting the insurance pay-out.
Tukwayo last month said when initial figures of damages were released by Nzimande in parliament, most of the damages were incurred at the Mthatha and Butterworth campuses. She said some of the costs were to be covered by insurance, while others would be covered by the university.
At the time, UFH had not made submissions to DHET for damage claims. Asked how the department arrived at the figure of R8-million for the University of Fort Hare, Nkwanyana said: “The amount of R8-million for UFH was estimated at the time of allocation and was not included in the April response to parliament”.
UFH had not responded to questions at the time of writing yesterday. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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