Zuma’s visit raised students’ hopes

(in the Pic - President Zuma addressing students who live at the Bethesda Church). President Jacob Zuma during the Presidential Siyahlola Monitoring Visit at Tshwane University of Technology (Soshanguve Campus). The visit included a walkabout at Botho Socio-Psychology Empowerment Centre, Thulasizwe Primary School, inspection of the male and female residences both on campus and outside where students use a church's backrooms for accommodation. President Zuma later addressed students in the student hall. 23/06/2015, Elmond Jiyane, GCIS, TUT Soshanguve Campus, Pretoria

(in the Pic - President Zuma addressing students who live at the Bethesda Church). President Jacob Zuma during the Presidential Siyahlola Monitoring Visit at Tshwane University of Technology (Soshanguve Campus). The visit included a walkabout at Botho Socio-Psychology Empowerment Centre, Thulasizwe Primary School, inspection of the male and female residences both on campus and outside where students use a church's backrooms for accommodation. President Zuma later addressed students in the student hall. 23/06/2015, Elmond Jiyane, GCIS, TUT Soshanguve Campus, Pretoria

Published Jun 30, 2015

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Harold Maloka says he was disappointed to notice the limited media coverage of the positive story that unfolded at TUT.

Pretoria - “I am encouraged by the response of the students which indicates that our message that education is the apex priority for the country has been received far and wide in the country. We have discovered a positive problem at TUT, the problem of an oversupply of students leading to inadequate accommodation. We are happy that young people are hungry for education in our country in this manner and we are challenged as government to respond to this challenge positively.”

This is how President Jacob Zuma summed up the highly successful Siyahlola Monitoring Visit to Soshanguve and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

On the morning of Tuesday, June 23, TUT was already abuzz with activity, with students making their way to different venues in anticipation of the arrival of President Zuma.

Many wanted to catch a glimpse, shake hands or take “selfies” with the president, while some were adamant and upbeat that the president’s visit to their campus would help address their plight.

Zuma was visiting the university following complaints from students that there is scarcity and lack of accommodation on campus to accommodate them while pursuing their studies. They further raised security concerns following the disturbing news of the stabbing to death of a student and burning of 18 cars during a protest last year.

The students also raised the challenge of adequate funding to successfully pursue their studies, which is a challenge faced by many students and potential students across the country.

In response to the students’ concerns, the president undertook the Siyahlola Monitoring Visit to see for himself and hear from students what the challenges are and how the government can help to create a conducive environment for learning.

On arrival, there was jubilation and excitement, a rousing welcome from the university community, which included university management, lecturers and students.

Cellphones were out to capture the historic visit and momentous occasion, which held the hope and aspirations of students.

The cellphones were in competition with television and photographic cameras, which all witnessed the positive events as they unfolded.

However, it was disappointing to notice limited media coverage of the positive story that unfolded throughout the day at TUT.

The visit began with a visit to female and male residences to observe the living conditions of students at the north campus.

Through the president’s interventions, the female residences were refurbished, especially bathrooms which were causes for concern due to lack of privacy and dignity. The students in the female residences attested to the interventions and were grateful to the government.

At the residences, students did not disappoint. They raised issues ranging from funding for meals provided by National Students Financial Assistance Scheme (NSFAS) not being enough, limited accommodation, students being required to remove all their belongings from their accommodation when going on holiday, which causes financial strain to their families. The university undertook to look into the matter.

Some students were full of compliments and said they were happy to be at the university and looked forward to concluding their studies and entering the job market.

They also said that there was now security at residences which made them feel safe.

The president and his entourage of deputy ministers who form the Presidential Youth Working Group Task Team led by Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Mr Buti Manamela, also proceeded to Bethesda Church in the community, which provides accommodation to 70 students. They are living under dire conditions split into one shack and two small rooms with one of the church pastors being the caretaker. The Departments of Higher Education and Social Development will continue to assess the situation and find solutions.

The president also visited the Botho Socio-Psychology centre, a youth skills development centre which has been adopted by the university. The centre is run from the old Thulasizwe Primary School, which has now been refurbished.

The president also addressed the public meeting of students and community members at the university hall and announced successful interventions by the government since the complaints had been brought to the attention of his office.

The visit was a resounding success in many ways. Other than the warm and rousing welcome the president received, key interventions and progress were observed and announced.

Government departments and institutions have been hard at work to respond to complaints by students and assist them to create a conducive environment for learning to take place.

The Department of Labour is registering unemployed youth into its database and will provide job placement assistance through Employment Services Practitioners in the area. In addition, the department will explore organising interactive sessions for the work seekers with career counsellors, who will provide advice on preparing CVs and preparing for interviews.

The South African Police Service has initiated an internship programme that will cater for an initial 15 students.

The Department of Sport and Recreation has erected a multi-purpose centre at Reitumetse High School, which is 5km from the TUT North Campus and which will be accessible to the youth around the community serviced by Botho. The facility was constructed at a budget of about R1-million and includes tennis, netball, volleyball, basketball courts and a soccer pitch.

Furthermore, the once dilapidated Thulasizwe Primary School, which has now been converted into a training centre, is getting much-needed attention. The Department of Public Works concluded a lease agreement for Botho Socio-Psychology Empowerment Centre near the campus which provides life skills and training for youth without matric in welding, boiler-making and computer skills to enable them to obtain jobs. The lease is for a period of 9 years and 11 months. The renovations of the school include painting, fixing of broken windows, doors and ceilings at a cost of approximately R3.5-million. The centre has been adopted by TUT students as a corporate social investment project.

The Department of Energy, in conjunction with the City of Tshwane, will attend to the internal wiring of the school and install prepaid electricity meters at a cost of R300 000. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has accredited the centre as a recognised training centre. The City of Tshwane, together with the Department of Water and Sanitation, will be resolving the issue of the water bill and will ensure that water connection is legalised.

The DHET has moved the students who were housed by Botho at Thulasizwe Primary School in unsuitable conditions to the residences at TUT. The students had been “squatting” at the school.

The positive problem that the president found at TUT is encouraging, as it shows that many young people have heeded the message from government that education is the apex priority for the country. The oversupply of students demonstrates that young people are hungry for education.

In whatever measure, the president’s Siyahlola Monitoring Visit was a major success and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation will follow up on the undertakings made as assigned by the president.

The positive story of the visit might have been missed in the reporting by the media.

However, the visit brought hope for the young people of TUT who want a better life.

* Harold Maloka is acting presidential spokesperson.

** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.

Pretoria News

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