On Thursday, 16 February 2023 the University of Pretoria Student Representative Council released a notice that it is holding an independent protest in front of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Residence Affairs and accommodation building on Duxbury Road. The demonstration is said to be against the NSFAS accommodation fee cap.
The demonstration follows a statement by the UP SRC, wherein [they] updated the student body that the National Student Financial Scheme has rejected the institution’s application to be exempted from the accommodation fee cap.
“After today’s meeting with the executive management, we have realized that there is no solution to this accommodation crisis from the university’s side. The proposed solutions that were tabled, were deemed to be impossible to achieve because of major issues including legal battles with stakeholders; furthermore, the institution claims that it does not have money” read the statement.
The UP SRC added in their statement that a proposal to accredit communes was well received, however, the only question stands on the possibility of NSFAS paying for such accommodations. In addition, [they] said that “…the only favorable solution from management’s side is to appeal to NSFAS again to be exempted from the R45,000.00 per annum per student cap.”
A number of photographs were posted on the UP SRC Instagram account wherein students were seen sitting in front of the institution’s residence affairs and accommodation offices. In one of the photographs, a student is seen holding a placard that reads “how do I look? Homeless? R 45,000 is not enough.” Another student held a placard that reads “I came to school to study instead I had to have a side hustle. R 45,000.”
“how do I look? Homeless? R 45,000 is not enough.”
UP student demonstrator
In their Instagram post, the UP SRC said “students at the University of Pretoria sleeping outside as they have no accommodation due to the R45 000 NSFAS cap.”
iSpotdaily contacted Brooklyn Police Station to confirm whether they received any reports of a demonstration, however, they [the police] indicated that they have not received any reports.
This is a developing story, iSpotdaily reporters will give updates on the situation as we learn more.
