14/01/2020
Today, PEC and REC members visited Elangeni TVET College, Pinetown Campus & DUT Durban campus as part of our branch visits.
Brief update of the visits & issues identified, particularly at Elangeni TVET college:
1. Registration for new and returning students commenced today, so the campus was full to the brim. Priority is given to those who had pre-registered in October of the previous year. Registration in the institution is obviously not online for both new and returning students; they are therefore subjected to long ques.
2. There are no walk-ins/Late applications at this stage, as a result many students were turned away. This includes students who applied via the Central Application Office & who may have received firm offers. Consideration is allegedly ONLY made to those who physically apply at the institution.
3. What we have identified as a matter of concern with regards to the intake at Elangeni is that, there is a money-making scheme system that is being utilized to enter students in the institution. Although the campus claims to have reached its intake, there are students who pay to have spaces created for them, which practically means such spaces do, in actual fact exist.
4. Unfunded class will not be operating this year.
5. The residence that exists only caters to females and only accommodates 60 female students, while there are +-5000 female students in the institution (This is information we received from one of the SRC members).
6. There were complaints regarding NSFAS in the TVET college, particularly with regards to the time in which e-wallets are transferred to students. Sometimes students receive their money 4 months later than the stipulated time.
We have requested a meeting with the campus manager at Elangeni, so as to enquire and address certain issues we are not happy with as an organisation, but that is yet to be confirmed
With regards to DUT Durban Campus.
Comrades had been assisting students with their late applications.
What we have identified, and poses as a matter of concern is the depoliticization of the institution, where cdes can no longer run the RTLC inside the premises of DUT, nor can they enter as a group. This also includes students who may not have received firm offers in the institution. There isn't much information we received with regards to the registration process as gaining access to such information is difficult with the organisation being out of power.