Several students as well as two police members were injured during a protest action at the Nkangala TVET College Mpondozankomo Campus in Ackerville earlier today (March 24).

Vosman Police Captain Vusi Mnisi said that they were informed about the protest action on Friday morning. “The protest however got out of control and members from the KwaMhlanga Public Order Police unit took over the scene,” Mnisi confirmed.

It is believed that students were joined by community members who stand to benefit as landlords to some of the students residing off campus and this is when the “peaceful protest” got out of hand.

It is alleged that some of the protestors got injured when police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, this, however, could not yet be confirmed.

According to Mnisi two police members were injured during the commotion.

The students shut down the campus on Thursday (March 23) over which among others National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) issues.

All entrances to the college were blocked because management allegedly had not addressed the students after the submission of a memorandum the previous day.

One of the grievances is the issue of allowances.

Students from Mpondozankomo Campus mentioned that they only receive R900 as a monthly allowance.

Many of the learners felt this amount was not enough to cover their needs.

Students also said they wanted the college and management to scrap the on-campus residence policy and allow students to stay where they saw fit and allocate funds for off-campus residence to them.

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