UJ Students to march over accommodation

The Citizen
Wednesday, 14 July 2010 17:37

NONI MOKATI

JOHANNESBURG - Students at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are crying foul over “dodgy” accommodation.

According to ANC Brixton branch spokesman Joseph Se-hlabaka, many students had approached the ruling party about alleged money-laundering and the exploitation of students.

It is claimed that the university provided shoddy accommodation to students sponsored by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme of South Africa (NSFAS).

But UJ executive director of students affairs Professor Bobby Mandew said the allegations were baseless and untrue.

A student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged there was overcrowding in some of university approved apartments.

Some students have apparently not been allocated accommodation, despite NSFAS having paid UJ for their residences.

One student charged that some of privately-owned student accommodation establishments were not accredited and were in a dire condition. Some of the “worst” residences are said to be in Ekeinhof, South of Johannesburg, and one in the Johannesburg central business district.

A number of students based in Brixton are vehemently opposing their mooted relocation (by the university) to Ekeinhof.

Students have threatened to embark on a big march if the university failed to meet their demands.

“Our parents are under the impression that we live in well-established houses and yet we are forced to live in dilapidated buildings.

“What’s more frustrating is that some of the flats in town are surrounded by prostitutes at night,” said one student.

An ANC Youth League member was apparently due to face a disciplinary hearing for speaking out on the matter.

Prof Mandew confirmed that one student was facing a disciplinary hearing after he led a group of first-year students to protest outside his house.

nonim@citizen.co.za