Sabrina Dean

Bloemfontein - The class boycott at Motheo FET College has now entered its seventh week.
Hundreds of students attended an SRC meeting at the college’s Bloemfontein middle campus yesterday (Wednesday) where they resolved to continue with the class boycott until the National Department of Higher Education responds to their demands. They are calling for college Principal Paseka Maboya to resign with immediate effect. The students have been on strike since March 16.
SRC President Nkosinathi Ngezi said, “We have forwarded a memorandum of grievances to the Minister’s office and we will not go back to class until we get a response.”
First year graphic design student Cali Mahlatsi, 19, said the class boycott has been very hard on students. “The exams were supposed to be in early June, but I don’t think we will write exams because we are not prepared.”
Mahlatsi said students want textbooks, student cards, renovations to buildings on campus, especially the toilets, and better security. She said other concerns include the high prices at the cafeteria and shortages of materials for certain students, such as the hospitality students.
According to Mahlatsi, the ongoing strike has been particularly bad for first year students; and she feels this will impact negatively on their entire future. “We are not going to register or pay for the second semester,” she said.
At the entrance to the college, scores of students hang around with nothing better to do. “Look at us, we are eating away our parents money,” said one student. Another said, “We are angry!”
Ngezi said one of the demands sent to Minister Blade Nzimande is that the June exams be postponed to September. “They are not yet ready to write exams,” he said. He also said the SRC wants the Public Protector to investigate corruption at the college; and the SRC also wants alleged nepotism investigated.
The college would not comment on the situation, but did offer to provide the minutes of the meetings held with the SRC. It said this document contained all relevant resolutions; and that the college will not comment until it gets word on intervention by its head of department.