INLSA

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Lectures came to a halt at Umlazi’s Mangosuthu University of Technology yesterday as rowdy students’ representative council (SRC) members protested.

The marchers, led by SRC president Sifiso Mvuyane, said they were protesting against a shortage of residences. He said 700 students did not have accommodation for the year.

In 2011, a fire broke out at the Lonsdale Hotel, in Dr Pixley KaSeme (West) Street, prompting the Mangosuthu management to decide that it was unsafe for students.

Mvuyane said the hotel was safe and the 700 students should stay there.

“We will not agree to any other accommodation besides Lonsdale.”

Other concerns raised by Mvuyane were that transport fees had increased from R900 to R1 500 annually and that students with fee debts were not being allowed to register.

According to university spokeswoman Mbali Mkhize

transport costs had increased because the university needed to clear its debt. She said a meeting between the management and the SRC, held on January 30, had resolved that final-year students who had applied and qualified for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding would be allowed to register.

Students in other years of study who applied and qualified for NSFAS funding would be allowed to register if they had balances of R8 000 or less.

Cash-paying students owing R5 000 and below would be allowed to register after paying registration deposits of a minimum of R1 000.

However, Mvuyane said the SRC proposed that final-year students owing up to R10 000 be allowed to register.