UFS Nsfas funding crisis: student activist claims police brutalised ...
UFS students protesting. Photo: Facebook
The University of the Free State (UFS) is investigating alleged police brutality during the arrest of a student activist was allegedly roughed up for a peaceful protest at its Bloemfontein campus at the weekend.
A number of students staged a sit-in after the registration period was not extended because some of them had not received funding confirmation from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, (Nsfas) to enable them to register for their courses.
“Ever since the intimidation of SA Police Service (SAPS) upon my arrest, I have been complaining that I was held by the police violently. I complained that I could not breathe and that I was having chest pains. My body is bruised and my arm cannot function properly. I have not received any medical attention,” said Nkosinathi Mtshali, a SA Students Congress (Sasco) activist who was released on Tuesday.
Mtshali said while other students were just shoved and pushed away from the door, he was allegedly tossed and stamped on by the police officers summoned to the campus to deal the the protesting students. He added that during his arrest at the weekend, he could not sleep and asked for his pills as he was suffering from insomnia and breathing problems, but the police did not allow any of his acquaintances to bring his medicine.
READ: Students left in limbo
UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader told City Press that the disruptions by students that occurred last week were interfering with the registration process.
Loader said:
Despite ongoing engagement by the university management during the week and the granting of various concessions to accommodate students facing financial difficulties, the group continued to disrupt the registration process during the week, resulting in the escalation of security interventions.
Loader added that the students were in contravention of the interdict which left the university protection services with no alternative but to call the SAPS members on campus and enforce the interdict.
“One of the protesters resisted arrest, which left the SAPS members with no option but to use minimum force to restrain him so that he could be arrested," said Loader.
Nsfas spokesperson Maduvha Maseda told City Press that it had released funding for all the eligible students.
"Funds are disbursed to universities in accordance with the registration data provided to the Nsfas for approved students. The question [of the non-registration of qualifying students] should be directed to the institution as Nsfas only processes students payments according to the registration data provided by the institutions," said Maseda.
Axola Toto, the other student who was arrested at the weekend, claimed that an instruction was given for five security guards to assault and block students from accessing the registration venue.
"Some students, who sustained injuries were treated by the ER24. At that time, I was feeling dizzy and students were bringing me water. I could not go to the ER24 because I am not on medical aid and I do not have enough money to register myself. I had provisionally registered. We wanted to seek clarity on the court interdict they [UFS] wanted to enforce because the court interdict does not stop us from carrying out our rights," he said.
Toto said when the university refused to address the students, they continued with their sit-in.
We were not resisting removal, we had our hands in the air, trying to demonstrate that were sitting silently.
He said as he was in the police van, he heard screams and saw students trying to pull the police away from a student. "I saw someone who was pinned to the ground and dragged by the police while being assaulted. It was Mtshali, who was crying and saying that he could not breathe and that his arm was painful. They dragged him to the van while he was not resisting arrest."
Meanwhile, SAPS Lieutenant Thabo Covane confirmed to City Press that Mtshali and Toto were arrested on Friday.
Covane said:
The students were arrested for the contravention of a court order, among other interdicts, that restrains the students from participating in unlawful protest action at the university and not to instigate riotous behaviour that may result in any damage of property.
READ: NSFAS chaos, delays may leave thousands unfunded
Covane added that the case was struck off the roll because of insufficient evidence.
UFS student representative council president Okuhle April told City Press that they had arranged counselling for both students.
“The background is that we as students wanted an extension of registration as not all students had received funding allocations from Nsfas. Some students are still waiting for appeal outcomes from other faculties,” said April.
April added that it was only fair that registration is extended to give ample time for both the university and Nsfas to sort out the students' funding issues, and for the UFS to let students know of their funding outcomes.
“Faculties had sent study offers to first year students that are more than what they capacitated to contain. Now when the students have accepted the study offers and wanted to register, they are told that programmes are full, whereas they have declined other study offers."
Classes started on Monday at all three campuses of the university.
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