Students at Orbit TVET College Mankwe Campus outside Rustenburg have embarked on a protest demanding immediate intervention over what they described as unacceptable living conditions in student residences.
The concerns, amongst other things are about lack of hotel maintenance and non-payment of national student financial aid scheme funds. They say Brits and Rustenburg campuses and received their allowance excluding them. “We feel that management is taking the issues lightly hence we had to resort to a protest, “said one of the students.
Other issues raised are about lack of security service. Students are demanding that all stoves, lights, showers and all air conditioners in classrooms must be fixed with immediate effect. Internship opportunities be made available for all courses. Students say they have to use buckets when they use toilets. Washing machines, lights, and showers are not working. The conditions are not suitable for learning.
They said that the state of their residences has become inhumane. The roofs in some of our residences are leaking, most of if not all electrical appliances are not working.
The students are demanding urgent answers from college management.
Campus Principal, Dika Mokoena said they are aware of the protest and have noted all the concerns raised by student. He said they have plans put in place to attend to the demands.” We will be meeting with the students and engaging on all issues.”
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The school principal must say without fear of contradiction that we have been crying for the past three years and the very same answersthat he is giving youwere givent to us the SRC of previous years with no solutions!!
Not only Mankwe Campus is facing a crisis
Brits campus also.
Student have not received their allowances and no communication has been given as to why. It’s always excuses
On top of that we are being given warning forms of deregistrations due to no attendance but how are we supposed to travel to school with no money
Some are kicked out of their accommodations since there’s no res here. It’s like they forget that landlords run a business and some have no sympathy/empathy.
Our scripts are being thrown away after writing tests because we only come to campus with borrowed money at that, when we have tests.
Orbit is becoming a shame and it’s very heartbreaking
It’s almost the middle of the year and yet we don’t have student packs.
There is no drinking water at campus since the opening in January.
The lectures tell us that it’s not their issue if we fail to attend classes, they don’t even want to hear our reasons
We’ve requested a mass meeting with the management, even now we still waiting for response
How are students supposed to pass
Honestly this is adding to out depressions
We came to school to better our lives, instead we are treated so harshly that we cry ourselves to sleep
Some are even sleeping with Nigerians all over brits just to survive and come to school
Is this the free educational that was fought for?💔😭😭😭😭 kub’hlungu shame