Johannesburg - University of the Witwatersrand EFF Student Command (EFFSC) members on Friday took their fight for affordable student accommodation to the Gauteng Human Settlements department's offices in Johannesburg.
Members took part in a protest to the department's head office, demanding government's intervention in the issue of student accommodation and to hand over a memorandum to MEC Paul Mashatile.
Speaking at the protest was EFFSC President Peter Keetse, who highlighted the plight of students struggling to get suitable accommodation.
"Tertiary students are sleeping in libraries, computer labs and some of them under bridges because they don't have accommodation.
"It is wrong that we have a government that's supposed to give free, quality education, housing and healthcare is still subjecting us to the same conditions that render us unable to study there like other students."
Keetse also slammed the exorbitant prices students continue to get charged for accommodation.
He added that the SC was going to tackle this issue by starting a campaign and mobilising society to come together to solve the issue.
EFFSC president Peter Keetse addresses members during a protest at the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements. Picture: Khanyisile Ngcobo.
The student command then handed over the memorandum which was received by the department spokesperson Keith Khoza on Mashatile's behalf.
"Unfortunately MEC Mashatile is off sick and unable to receive the memorandum, otherwise he would've loved to meet and engage with you. We do accept the issue of student accommodation as a genuine issue.
"We have been talking to one of our entities called the Gauteng Partnership Fund to look at how we can work with universities to provide student accommodation."
Khoza confirmed the issue was a crisis, especially in Gauteng, and vowed that the department and city would work together to find a solution.
Student command members also marched to the City of Joburg's offices to hand over a memorandum to mayor Herman Mashaba.