Lovedale TVET College Students Facing Unresolved Funding, Academic, Infrastructure, and Student Support Failures

Statement by Sekelwa Landzela – DASO Lovedale Chairperson:

Lovedale TVET College students at the Alice and Zwelitsha campuses cannot continue to lose teaching and learning time as a result of a campus shutdown over grievances.

Students have raised legitimate grievances relating to NSFAS defunding, Gap Investigation cases, unpaid allowances, supplementary examination students, outstanding and nullified results, Services SETA funding continuity, learning resources, student residences, and delays in key campus infrastructure projects.

These issues affect whether students can attend class, remain in accommodation, complete practical work, progress academically, and continue their studies. For many Lovedale students, delayed allowances or unresolved results are enough to collapse an entire academic year.

The Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) at Lovedale respects the constitutional right of students to protest peacefully. Students have the right to organise, raise grievances, and demand answers.

However, that right must be exercised responsibly. DASO cannot support any action that prevents students from registering, attending classes, writing assessments, accessing campus services, or continuing their academic year.

The indefinite shutdown of the Lovedale campuses will hurt the same students whose rights and futures must be protected. Administrative failure cannot be answered with deeper academic disruption and no clear path back to teaching and learning.

DASO Lovedale will be writing to the NSFAS administrator, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, requesting his urgent intervention regarding all issues pertaining to NSFAS.

Lovedale management must also account for delays in campus Wi-Fi, classroom renovations, residence maintenance, and the allocation of internship opportunities intended for Lovedale students.

Students deserve answers, open campuses, functioning classes, fair funding processes, and academic certainty. A campus shutdown strips students of the very learning time, support, and stability they are fighting to protect. Legitimate grievances must be addressed urgently, but protest action cannot be allowed to block registration, classes, assessments, or access to essential campus services

DASO will continue to fight for a Lovedale TVET College where legitimate student grievances are resolved, learning is protected, and public institutions are held accountable for the futures placed in their care.