INLSA

Students at Mangosuthu University of Technology in Umlazi protested over accommodation, financial aid and a hike in transport fees. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo

Lectures at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in Umlazi were disrupted on Monday when about 200 students protested over a lack of accommodation and a hike in transport fees.

The students, who are members of the Progress Youth Alliance, made up of the SA Student Congress, Young Communist League and ANC Youth League, protested peacefully on the main campus, singing Struggle songs.

Student Representative Council president Sfiso Mvuyani said the protest would continue until issues were resolved.

Mvuyani said the SRC had submitted numerous memorandums of grievances to management, especially about the non-renewing of a lease for student accommodation.

“Some residences are lost to other universities. Many students are in need of accommodation. The university wants to shut down Lonsdale Hotel in Point, yet it is not providing alternative accommodation for about 700 students.”

He suggested the university build more residences on campus to meet the needs of a growing student population, and so students could more easily access facilities.

“This would also cut the transport fee. From paying R960 last year to paying R1 500 per semester for transport this year, it has increased dramatically... The university has not even explained how it got to such a high increase,” he said.

The Progressive Youth Alliance has also proposed that all third-year students be registered, provided their outstanding fees don’t exceed R15 000.

Mvuyani was concerned that by the time university management takes their financial aid grievance seriously, it would be too late because students would not be allowed to register.

The university’s senior director: communications, Mbali Mkhize, said the varsity was not going to renew the accommodation lease because it was a decision taken by the council. “Students were offered alternative accommodation, but they refused to accept it,”

she said.