‘House students in vacant state buildings’

Scores of university and college students from across Nelson Mandela Bay marched to the Port Elizabeth City Hall on Tuesday, demanding that vacant buildings owned by the municipality and government be made available for student accommodation.

The protesters, led by Sasco and Cosas, also demanded that the municipality deliver on a promise made in 2018 by former mayor Mongameli Bobani to provide R3m to help needy students to pay registration fees.

The memorandum was accepted by the Bay’s acting mayor, Thsonono Buyeye, who promised to report back to the students in 14 days, saying young people needed to occupy the city centre.

Sasco regional secretary Thembalethu Nyikilana said the government should avail state-owned land and buildings to developers so student accommodation could be built.

“This is a continuation of our old protest. We [need] student accommodation developed at an affordable price.

“Secondly, we want to build student accommodation in the metro because it is a crisis.

“Our sisters on a continuous basis are being raped and [are] victims of gender-based violence as well other sorts of social ills and crime,” he said.

“Promises that were made must be fulfilled and that is why we’re here today.

“The government and the municipality must make land available for affordable, sustainable and safe accommodation.”

Nyikilana said students were forced to squat or occupy unsuitable accommodation run by unscrupulous people due to a shortage of student accommodation.

The students were joined in their protest by the ANC Youth League, the ANC Women’s League’s young women’s desk and health workers’ union Nehawu.

While singing outside City Hall, some protesters held up posters that read #HandsOffAndileLungisa, in support of the Bay councillor.

Nehawu regional secretary Sweetness Stokwe gave a message of support to the students.

“The youth of 1976 left a mark and I’m standing next to young people who want to leave a mark and be remembered for fighting for the needs of their fellow students.

“There’s no way a student can focus in a classroom who’s worried about when they go back, the accommodation would be there or not.

“This is why we’re here,” Stokwe said.

Sasco provincial convener Alungile Kamtshe said it could no longer keep quiet while students continued to live in places of squalor.

“The infrastructure students live in is not right.

“There’s poor infrastructure all over the country.

“Students live on the streets and are expected to pass their academics.

“One thing is clear, we didn’t demonstrate today because we want to be famous but to demonstrate the plight of our masses.

“We want to ensure conducive spaces for our brothers and sisters,” Kamtshe said.

HeraldLIVE