12/09/2017
To: SASCO Branch Executive Committees
Ehlanzeni Region
Cc: Campus Management, College Council, College Management,
Campus SRC and College SRC
From: Regional Executive Committee
SASCO Ehlanzeni
Date: 11 September 2017
Subject: SASCO Regional Statement on the financial crises and corruption in Ehlanzeni TVET College
Receive our Revolutionary Greetings in a month where South Africa celebrates its Heritage Month on the 24th of September 2017.
The Regional Executive Committee (REC) of SASCO has noted with grave concern the brutal conditions which our Students are forced to live underneath across the Ehlanzeni TVET College.
Background
On the 23rd of June 2017 SASCO of Ehlanzeni Region invited the College Management and College Council to a meeting to discuss Financial crises of the College which only the College council avail itself for the discussion, The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Financial Status quo of the College and other issues affecting Students of Ehlanzeni TVET College with regards to their well being as Students in various Campuses, The meeting went very well in exception of College management on which the meeting resolved to meet college management within seven working days which up to date we are yet to meet them, The meeting learned that the is serious mismanagement of funds by Central management.
We are reminded of the appalling conditions that many Students are faced with, on their pursued to obtain Higher Education Qualification.as SASCO we are members of the Community before we are students, therefore it is important that the microcosm of society within which we exist must be used as training ground for the broader transformation of society not this barbaric conditions we are held bent and forced to live underneath.
NSFAS AND FINANCIAL CRISES
SASCO must express its utter disgust and dismay, at the developments or lack of conscious with regard to Students allowances from NSFAS administered by the College, due to lack of humility by our incumbent officials Students are left with no choice but to be vulnerable on their virtue to obtain Academic Excellency, such imposed barbaric behaviour has caused many students to sleep in police stations, churches ,libraries, garages and toilets without food, many students are unable to survive such harsh conditions return home disappointed and despondent. The pinnacle of NSFAS Allowance is the late payment to Students who reside in residences, own accommodation and those who rely on the money to be assisted with Transport which makes Students not to attend classes as required by the NSFAS guidelines, such scourge of transport and accommodation insecurities in our various Campuses has exacerbated by late and non payments of NSFAS Allowances.yet again poor students are expected to compete with their rich classmates whilst nursing an empty stomach on a daily basis while trying to concentrate meaningful and give maximum concentration in class. Report 191 Engineering and Business studies students fall victims of financial maladministration since they have to register twice or thrice a year as of now new students in report 191 engineering will not be enrolled since the is no financial assistance thus it contradicts the government call for the public to consider TVET sector as an answer to the national skills crises.
ACADEMICS
We have identified with great concern the stupidity of our College in terms of supporting students in achieving their academic excellence, which is the students fundamental goal to succeed, and College management is doing nothing to assist Students to achieve their primary goals, There are no Educational tours. workshops and libraries have turned into white horses and students are exposed to high failure rate since the are no equitable tools to do assignments and researches. We have seriously observed that their children are given VIP treatment in Universities such as Witswaterstrand in Gauteng and University of Pretoria while children of the poor of the poorest are exposed to the unruly and unethical conditions imposed by College management and NSFAS Officials. 2017 Academic year has been engulfed with protest each and every month in all corners where Ehlanzeni TVET College is situated due to lack of willingness by management to come up with a clear funding model for Students, Students are forced to abscond themselves from classes which is the results of not having proper and clear funding model.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Since 2014 Ehlanzeni TVET College has detoriated in terms of infrastructure development in our Various Campuses, Mthimba and Kanyamazane Campus are similar to a crèche where Takalani Sesame is usually conducted to by Nannies. Barberton,Nelspruit, Mlumati and Mapulaneng Campus are also connived with the very same situation which even a toddler would not allow to be fed in lecture halls of this institutions. Our campuses reminds us of the then Apartheid regime where blacks were not allowed to be seen in nice and condusive places rather be seen in filthy and undermining environments. One will not be able to separate our campuses with military base wherein all sorts of massive explosives are found in. It is within our understanding as Ehlanzeni Region that those who are entrusted with high responsibilities to sharpen the future of our young people are now indoctrinated with high level of dishonesty and disobedience to the call for free and fair quality Education. In all parts of Ehlanzeni TVET Campuses the is no campus development yet everyday tenders are awarded to incompetent friends of management, in some campuses toilets are given preferred and maximum security such that they are bar glared with door bar glared instead of giving security to students.
As the region we fully support the SRC initiative to shut down all campuses of Ehlanzeni TVET college.
RECCOMMENDATIONS
We recommend that since the above issues are not for the first time brought in to your attention be attended to within 72hours. We recommend that those who are residing in private organised residences be given contracts for the months that are left in order for the services to continue provided to students. Those who are travelling, Bus tickets be bought using the little funds available to assist students to be in Campus in due time and be able to write Final and preparatory examination. Those who resides within Campus residences be given maximum support for catering and condusive environment.We call upon the department of higher Education and Training ministry to pay a special visit to Ehlanzeni TVET College before the end of this Academic year. We also recommend that Students Support Officers be reminded of their daily duties in various Campuses since students are not assisted in any case by Students Support Officers. We demand to see the College and Campuses Strategic planning for various Campuses. We would also like to be given the College Council Recommendations on the current situation of the College. We also recommend that all Campuses which are having Campus residences be renovated starting from next month in preparations for them to be fully functioned in the next academic year.
ALUTA CONTINUA
AMANDLA
Issued by RWC Of Ehlanzeni Region
Odas Shongwe Chaiperson
071 578 2244
Sibusiso Nkosi Secretary
076 367 7357
