Local police had to intervene in a students protest in front of the Vhembe Further Education and Training College in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) on Friday January 12.

At first, the reason for the students’ protest was unclear and, fearing for public safety, members of the Soutpansberg Town Watch arrived at the scene. Shortly afterwards, police assistance was requested. Members of the local traffic department also rushed to the scene. Upon the arrival of the police, the student protestors calmed down and started leaving the premises.

Trying to find out the reason for the protest action, the Zoutpansberger talked to two of the college’s employees.

Mrs. Khuba, curriculum coordinator, said that the protesting students were from the east campus at Sibasa. They wanted a meeting with the college CEO who was in Polokwane at the time. Mrs Khuba said that the students were unhappy about two new study programmes which are to be implemented at the central campus at Nzhelele. According to Mrs Khuba, the students also wanted new study programmes at the east campus, which is lacking the necesary facilities and accomodation to make this possible. She said that the college is there to provide a quality education and that the college will be lacking that quality if the new programmes are moved to the east campus, which has already exceeded its capacity.

On Tuesday, the Zoutpansberger contacted the CEO of the college, Mr Hamilton Mnisi. Mr Mnisi said that the college is part of the Department of Education and that an audit was done by the department, before giving certain quotas to the college. According to Mr Mnisi, the two new programmes (civil and electrical engineering) are being implemented at the central campus, because of the ample accommodation for students and the necessary facilities.

Mr Mnisi said that the college is currently experiencing a problem with the east campus exceeding its capacity and implementing these programmes would cause an even greater problem. He said the college knows what is best for all their students and that the public and the parents of these students should sympathize with them. Mr Mnisi also said the east campus will be providing an existing programme of an automobile course in the near future and that students should try to understand that the college can only do what is possible.