Students back at Durban University of Technology

Lusanda Bill
23 August 2010

The Durban University of Technology students are back at their desks today.

Last week the university’s management closed the campus after police fired rubber bullets at students protesting about access to financial aid.

The university was closed because of fear for the safety of staff and students.

The main issue was that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) could not meet their financial requirements to students in terms of loans.

Acting Communications Manager Bhekani Dlamini said "The situation is back to normal, students are back in class. No problems have been encountered this today. We trust we will have a peaceful semester".

Over the weekend an agreement was reached by the university and the SRC to grant loans to students.

Acting Vice Chancellor Nqabomzi Gawe said in a statement "The university recognises that its immediate priority is with those second semester students who have been academically successful in terms of NSFAS and university rules of progression, if no funding was allocated by the NSFAS or the department of higher education and training, there would be no funding for first time applicants for NSFAS in 2011”.