SATVETSA STATEMENTS

On the weekend of the 14 -15 July 2023, the South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association had its national executive meeting which was held at PE COLLEGE at Gqeberha in Eastern Cape. PE COLLEGE is one of the colleges that has been facing many challenges when it comes to student issues it was one of the reasons the National Executive Committee had its meeting at the college. 

The meeting was also a platform for a post-mortem for the Training which took place at KwaZulu Natal in Meet Mekaar Resorts Mtubatuba which was attended by all SRC’S representatives across all 50 TVET colleges. The training was a platform for SRC members to directly engage with NSFAS and the direct payment service providers. It was indeed agreed that the bank system fee which was R29 a month is now R12 a month however the structure still believes that in the system the are matters that still need the attention of the structure like your immediate payment fee and its time frame. 

NSFAS ISSUES 

The are currently three big issues in the sector that students are facing which are; students with missing documents on the system, NSFAS appeals, and students who are Provincial funded for months without the hope of being funded. SATVETSA, DHET, and NSFAS have been busy with institutional visits which included a working session. The visits have assisted many students who weren’t uploaded to the system and currently are funded. 

The is no student that must be left out, we are engaging with NSFAS to start focusing on institutions that currently have big numbers of students who aren’t funded. 

The appeals committee of NSFAS will be meeting on the 20th of July 2023 to look at the appeals and rejected students for funding. Two members of SATVETSA will be part of the meeting emphasizing the need to fund all students in the sector. 

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION 

NSFAS will start allocating students to private accommodations which applied directly to NSFAS for accreditation of the student residence. This initiative will assist students in not paying rent or dealing with landlords as they will be paid directly by NSFAS. SATVETSA notes this as a victory for the sector as it is known that this system was only at the Universities where students were accommodated in the high-level residence and TVET students lived in the backrooms. Starting from now all students will be sharing one accommodation regardless of whether they are University students or TVET students as they are all funded by NSFAS with one method of allowances.

DHET ISSUES 

We want to wish all NATED business students well on their results indeed it was a long semester with many challenges. However, the structure was able to negotiate with the department on the issue of the attendance policy which states that for students to qualify for NSFAS allowances and final examination must attend at least 80% of their classes. It must be noted currently the sector is facing issues of delayed payments on allowances and delays in funding students which led to many students not being able to constantly attend classes or have money for transport. 

SATVETSA is planning to meet the DDG of the TVET Branch to engage on the matters affecting the curriculum and delay in the certification of students in the TVET Sector. The association will further discuss the issue of placing students, a TVET student isn’t a TVET graduate without a trained skill or work-based experience.

As for the structure we also believe that our colleges should focus on the local economy when structuring their courses, we are planning to further engage the DDG on Maritime courses and introductory to aviation in the sector. 

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS 

The association will start a process of Provincial General Councils to all provinces before the end of the month which will focus on the policy matters and developing new policies. The PGCs will also allow provinces to elect new leadership on provinces without PECs. 

All Provincial Structures will be visiting campuses starting this month to deal with student issues. The visits will focus on all 300 campuses in the TVET Sector. 

The President of SATVETSA Mr. Genius Siyabonga Shabalala will start a campaign and engage stakeholders to place and employ our students, the target is 300 students to be employed in the next three months. The stakeholders of the TVET Sector have a responsibility to take care of their nation.

The Association is planning a Women’s conference that will take place during women’s month which is also a TVET month. This program must address the need to ensure that all students have access to sanitary towels and recreating women’s desks across the TVET Sector.

The NEC was able to finalize the appointment of the National Working Committee members which have the top 5, the National Organizer, and the National Spokesperson. We would like to congratulate Ms. Jennifer Mukhesani on her new appointment as a National Organizer of SATVETSA and Mr Brian Zanazo as the National Spokesperson, we are looking forward to working with them hand in hand to achieve the vision of the Sector. 

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”-Nelson Mandela 

The fights of the Universities aren’t ours to understand but to learn from, as will never belong to the TVET Sector however the is more success from learning than overreacting.

Issued by SATVETSA NEC 

National President 

Genius Siyabonga Shabalala 

Cde6genius@gmail.com 

Secretary General 

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali 

SATVETSA@GMAIL.COM

073 807 7433 

For inquiries 

National Spokesperson 

Brian Zanazo 

zanazobrian@gmail.com

067 106 2548

We have received numerous complaints about the unrest at King Sabatha Dalindyebo TVET College and noted the issues that are being faced by trimester students. The NEC is engaging NSFAS and DHET to visit the institution before the end of the week to fix all the issues that students are facing. 

We have also reminded NSFAS to continue with the agreement of doing all first payments every Friday. 

The struggle is genuine no students should go to bed without food or not have a place to sleep however as SATVETSA National Executive Committee we condemn (at its highest level) the burning of institutional property in King Sabatha Dalindyeno TVET College.

The NEC will be visiting the college together with relevant stakeholders to curb these acts of criminality from happening in the future.

Issued by:

SATVETSA NEC

National President 

Genius Siyabonga Shabalala 

Cde6genius@gmail.com 

Secretary General 

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali 

SATVETSA@GMAIL.COM 

073 807 7433 

#onemessagemanyvoices

We call upon NSFAS to fast-track the process of accrediting landlords and deliver our students to safe student residences. We further call upon Higher Health and DHET to intervene in the matter at hand.

SATVETSA will further engage DHET and the college to find ways to assist students with safe accommodation. However, SATVETSA has noted that the majority of colleges haven’t responded to circular NO 2 of 2023, dated the 19th of May 2023 from NSFAS which addresses the issue of students who need private accommodation. We argue all SRC members to communicate with their colleges and fast-track the process. 

Public Colleges indeed belong to the communities but it is also true that all students are members of the communities. We have hope for the communities we rent and live in.

“Violence against women isn’t cultural, it’s criminal. Equality cannot come eventually, it’s something we must fight for now. Violence against women can end only when the culprits get punished. Violence against women is an everyday reality, act now, always, and forever before it’s too late.”

Issued by:

SATVETSA NEC

National President 

Genius Siyabonga Shabalala 

Cde6genius@gmail.com 

Secretary-General 

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali 

SATVETSA@GMAIL.COM 

073 807 7433

-END-

#onemessagemanyvoices

SATVETSA NEC had a meeting with NSFAS CEO and DHET Student support officials regarding issues that are being faced by students however we felt that having meetings without implementation is the reason for much unrest that is taking place at campuses. 

The NEC requested the following from NSFAS and DHET:

1. NSFAS and DHET to visit campuses and resolve the issues of students. 

2. SRC to submit weekly lists to NSFAS of students with issues. 

3. To have an NSFAS workshop that will train student leaders and have a working session on student issues. 

All the requests were accepted by NSFAS and DHET. Currently, NSFAS, DHET, and SATVETSA NEC are visiting Institutions to assist students with NSFAS issues. At the visit, we allow time for SRC to work with NSFAS on the student list with issues. 

SRC was requested to submit the lists to the SATVETSA student funding officers which will be submitted to NSFAS weekly. We encourage students with NSFAS issues to submit IDs to SRC members so that they can be assisted. 

SATVETSA will be inviting SRCs to workshop and have a work session before the end of this month (June).

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION 

We still encourage students who need accommodation to submit their names through the SATVETSA link, it must be noted that this process will assist in fast-tracking the issue of student residence/ accommodations. 

Please note the link: https://forms.gle/UVAKCCXKiy5Y6tYo9

APPEALS 

Currently, about 120 000 appeals have been received and about 39 000 appeals were finalized and are funded, around 25 000 are on submission but around 15000 of them are awaiting results which is not a problem because colleges have submitted them however the majority of appeals are of the reason of missing documents. We request SRC members to assist the students in uploading the missing documents on the NSFAS portal. No student should not be funded because of missing documents. 

All students who couldn’t appeal because of the appeal button not showing on their portal will be given time to appeal as the issue is now resolved. 

80% ATTENDANCE POLICY 

Currently, the is an 80% attendance policy that as SATVETSA we believe is not the right time to implement it. We have communicated with NSFAS and DHET about the policy, and a communication will be issued this week from DHET to colleges to currently withdraw the policy until the NSFAS issues are resolved and students can attend without any issues.

“I’m not attached to anything.

I’m attached to what it feels it’s my duty, to do my duty.

I think that I will die with the boots on”. (Fidel Castro)

Issued by:

SATVETSA NEC

National President 

Genius Siyabonga Shabalala 

Cde6genius@gmail.com 

Secretary General 

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali

SATVETSA@GMAIL.COM 

073 807 7433

-END-

One of the issues which were raised by the NEC was the monthly bank charges which were R29 a month however a proposal of R12 a month was agreed upon and recommended for implementation. 

SATVETSA is currently running a petition for all students who need accommodation. We believe that the are no students who should feel homeless in the high institution of learning. We request all students to take the petition so that NSFAS will avail the accommodation. 

Please note the link: https://forms.gle/UVAKCCXKiy5Y6tYo9

Issued by:

SATVETSA NEC 

National President 

Genius Siyabonga Shabalala 

Cde6genius@gmail.com 

0680552243

Secretary General 

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali 

SATVETSA@GMAIL.COM 

0738077433

-END-

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)

STUDENT ALLOWANCES 

It remains a serious frustration that there are students who haven’t received any allowances, and the reality is that no one is updating students about anything. NSFAS has confirmed that they have paid students for two months, and they will continue to pay every Friday for all first-time payments. 

We advise all SRCs to communicate with their financial aid officers to submit the registration data for all students who are funded so that NSFAS will pay them.

We have requested that NSFAS standardize the amount of allowances as it is on the NSFAS guidelines; however we understand the R45000 cap was the maximum amount for landlords to claim from NSFAS, and we also understand that NSFAS has not yet finalized the process of accrediting landlords meanwhile the different allowances claimed to NSFAS by institutions don’t accommodate the needs of students, we believe equal allowances for all is a better solution. NSFAS will start the consultation process for standardizing the allowances as advised by the Student Association.

Starting next month, all first-time funded students who haven’t received any allowances will get an amount for 3 months. 

It is important for students to note that the normal date for NSFAS payments is the 25th day of every month.

All students with mismatched allowances (received transport instead of accommodation allowance) must report the matter to financial aid officers who will rectify the matter with NSFAS. It must be noted that institutions determine the type of allowance students must receive. 

APPEALS 

On the 13-14 of March 2023 the Independent Appeals Tribunal Committee had its first meeting wherein they found out that 102k appeals were received by NSFAS however, it’s disappointing that many students don’t submit the appeals on time and the majority of them end up being closed. We request that institutions assist students with appeals for them to be funded. NSFAS is working on responding to all appeals, we are confident that starting next week, many students will receive responses from their MyNSFAS portal. 

PORTAL STATUSES 

SATVETSA has raised the issue of the following states:

Awaiting academic results: institutions need to submit the results of all these students on time for NSFAS to pay them if indeed they have progressed to the next level. We request that all SRC members follow up with all financial aid officers about the submission of results. 

>Statuses that are not moving, and others have restarted: NSFAS did admit that their system has been experiencing issues. However, it is fixed, and statuses will start moving systematically. 

PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION 

It is confirmed that NSFAS has started a process of accrediting landlords and grading them. The process has started and will continue even in other provinces. The following are the details of the provinces, which are in progress:

[ ] 17 March 2023 at Johannesburg

[ ] 20th of March 2023 they are in KwaZulu Natal 

However, activeness on applications by landlords is currently low, and NSFAS has received less than 200k applications from the system whereby more than 500k students are funded by NSFAS. We advise landlords to apply and submit their documents to ensure the well-being of students. 

CELBUX ALLOWANCES 

In the year 2022, the contract of Celbux was terminated with the request from former leaders who requested a better platform that doesn’t limit students in any way. The solution was to introduce a banking system, however, we understand that they are students who couldn’t withdraw all their amount of money from the Celbux platform, currently with the request of SATVETSA NEC, NSFAS has requested the reversal of these allowances back to NSFAS. Starting next month, April 2023, NSFAS will start the process of allocating these allowances to their rightful owners. NSFAS did confirm that the process won’t take more than one month.

GUIDELINES 

Some colleges went to a student protest because of the misunderstanding of the guidelines by institutions. We have requested NSFAS to train all student support officials and SRC about the guidelines. 

We have also requested amendments to some sections of the guidelines as they contradict and bring confusion.

DIRECT PAYMENT SYSTEMS 

On the 20th of March 2023, the South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association (SATVETSA) had a meeting with service providers of direct payments, namely Coinvest, Norraco, eZaga, and Tenet Technology. The meeting was chaired by the CFO of NSFAS, Mr. Masile Ramorwesi. However, SATVETSA has lobbied through the CFO that these partners have to at least train and hire 264 (1 per campus) TVET exited students (with the exception of Business Management and Financial Management). The training must include student support officials, SRC, and PEC of SATVETSA. 

The Association has raised issues regarding Norraco as a service provider however it has been reported that Narroco is currently at Ingwe TVET College and they will visit all the campuses. We have made it clear that any service provider who doesn’t deliver on services, will result in us recommending an immediate termination of contract. The Association demanded the service provider deliver cards to students with immediate effect. 

Tenetech, Coinvest, and EZaga have confirmed that more than 75% of students are onboard on the system, and more than 60% of students have banking cards. However, the majority numbers of the students who aren’t yet boarded are the results of the colleges that haven’t submitted their registration data. All students who just received their allowances without bank cards will start receiving their cards before the end of this month, students will be accessing their allowances through the banking card system.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”

Make the TVET the institution of choice. 

Issued by SATVETSA NEC 

National President 

Genius Siyabonga Shabalala 

0680552243

Secretary General 

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali 

SATVETSA@gmail.com

0738077433

#OneMessageManyVoices

-END-

Issued by:

SATVETSA NEC 

National President 

Genius Siyabonga Shabalala 

Cde6genius@gmail.com 

0680552243

Secretary General 

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali 

W.mgwali@gmail.com 

0738077433

-END-

FUNDING 

The South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association has received complaints from different colleges, which are administrated by Norraco, and the non-compliance of the service provider. We will be engaging NSFAS on ways to intervene in this matter. Such behavior isn’t accepted, and it must never be tolerated with such poor service towards the students of the Sector. 

It is noted with a high-level understanding that few colleges are currently on strike due to the misinterpretation of the NSFAS 2023 guidelines.

These national calamities can be easily avoided by proper training for all college staff members and SRC’S. However, when the message is delivered, NSFAS officials, together with SATVETSA, must be present to interpret the latter statutes

Payments 

The payments of students have started reflecting students, which are currently uploaded on the system, SATVETSA advises students to use their allowances wisely and not be influenced by clubs/ taverns to do otherwise. 

POLICY CONFERENCE 

The National Executive Committee looked at resolutions of the National Congress, which resolved to take the organization to a policy conference, which will finalize the policies that were drafted on the NGC last year at North West. 

The NEC found it important to fast-track the finalization of the convocation policy and the standardization of 80% in all SRC constitutions.

 GBV AND DISABILITY CAMPAIGNS 

We have resolved to start an intensive campaign against GBV in the institution of higher learning. 

In April, the organization will start engaging stakeholders to join hands-on fighting GBV by launching provincial campaigns, which will target more than 1000 students per province. This program will be a build-up program to a National GBV program, which will be hosted by KwaZulu Natal. 

The organization mourns the passing of a student at Motheo TVET College who suffered from mental health and many other students. We will be engaging with DHET and Higher Health to look at ways to fight mental health. 

Higher Health remains our strategic ally in achieving all our strategic goals to curb GBV and discrimination against any form of disabilities.

RELATIONS 

The South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association would like to congratulate the newly elected National Executive Committee of South African Public Colleges Organisation led by Prof. MDM Phutsisi as President, Mr. XB Phike as the Secretary-General and Mr. Cain Maimela as the Treasure General. As SATVETSA, we will continue to work hand in hand with the newly elected leadership. 

The NEC has noted and supports all track and field games that are currently underway by our counterparts, the CoSACSA (College Sports Arts and Culture South African).

The National Executive Committee of SATVETSA was elected on the 4th day of February 2023 at eLangeni TVET College Pinetown. The following members were elected:

1. President – Genius Shabalala 

2. Deputy President – Kgaogelo Chokoe 

3. Secretary-General – Wongali Mgwali 

4. Deputy Secretary – Mbulelo Gobo

5. Treasurer General – Thabelo Mofokeng

6. Student funding – Kelebogile Olifant 

7. Gender and disability – Nthabiseng Mdakane

8. Sports arts and culture – Sevano Ambraal

9. Policy Development – Relebohile Lekoetje

10. Wellness and campus safety – Masego Booysen 

The Congress left provinces with many vacancies. 

The NEC is aware of all the co-options made by provinces without the NEC deployees, the NEC has decided to not recognize the co-ops made by the PEC and advised all Provincial Structures to constitute PGC where they will deal with recommendations on policies and filling of vacancies. 

The following provinces are under the supervision of the NEC deployees: 

Mpumalanga Provincial Structure (Treasurer General – Thabelo Mofokeng Ace)

Northern Cape Provincial Structure (Deputy President – Kgaogelo Chokoe )

Free State Provincial Structure (Wongani Mgwali Secretary General)

Eastern Cape Provincial Structure (Genius Siyabonga Zamashengu Shabalala)

The deployed NEC members must assist the Provincial Structure with arranging PGC’S.

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.” Nelson Mandela 

Let us make the TVET sector the institution of choice!

Issued by 

SATVETSA NEC

National President: 

Siyabonga Zamashengu Genius Shabalala 

0680552243

cde6genius@gmail.com 

Secretary General:

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali 

0738077433

W.mgwali@gmail.com 

-END-

NWC STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

14 September 2023

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING 

ORGANISATIONAL

The NWC has announced the year 2024 to be the year of campuses where all NEC members will spend the first three months of the year visiting and assisting students at different campuses. These tasks must also be done by provincial members even beyond the first 3 months of the year. We understand that many mistakes happened at the beginning of the year which resulted in many issues arising during the year it is so that we want to ensure that we understand all student issues at the beginning of the year. SATVETSA will also lobby DHET, NSFAS, and Direct payment service providers to be part of the visits to assist students more especially on the registration of NSFAS and student enrolment.

1. STATE OF PROVINCES

At the beginning of the second semester, many SATVETSA members exited colleges which resulted in them no longer being members of SATVETSA as they aren’t registered students it is so that the NWC zooms on the state of provinces. 

The NWC has resolved to convert the following provinces to provincial tasks teams:

•  Limpopo province
• Free State province
• Mpumalanga province
• Northern Cape

The following members were appointed to be PTT members:

LIMPOPO

Mashilo David – Convenor 

Mtileni Thom Peter – Coordinator 

Kotlolo Ouma – Deputy Coordinator

Mkhomazi Zanele – Resource mobilizer 

Mulamu Pfarelo Aubrey – Media and Marketing 

FREE STATE

Matshego Lephallo – Convenor 

Ntambo Phakiso – Coordinator 

Malerato Jabu – Deputy Coordinator

Katleho Matsoso – Resource mobilizer 

Boitumelo Khoete – Media and Marketing

MPUMALANGA

Lerato Tsotetsi – Convenor 

Innocentia Nene – Coordinator 

Freeman Nkosi – Deputy Coordinator

Thulani Dlamini – Resource mobilizer 

Koketso Mokoena – Media and Marketing

NORTHERN CAPE

Khanyisile Universe Mthethwa – Convenor 

Tumelo Jantjie – Coordinator 

Thuto Lereisa – Deputy Coordinator

Tebogo April – Resource mobilizer 

Keabetswe Marthing – Media and Marketing

All the provinces are expected to deliver PGCs no later than March 2024. 

2.     State of the NEC

The NWC would like to send heartfelt congratulations to Its former President Mr. Genius Shabalala on his new appointment as an employee at his college and further congratulate him on his appointment as the deputy coordinator of the ANCYL at Mpumalanga Province this is a stepping stone to even greater things ahead. The NWC also discussed and accepted the appointment of the Deputy President Ms. Kgaogelo Chokoe to the office of the Presidency as guided by the constitution of SATVETSA as adopted in the national congress. Ms. Chokoe will be the President of SATVETSA until the next National Congress.

NSFAS

SATVETSA had a working session with NSFAS and the NWC discussed the report of the working session. It must be noted that out of 50 TVET Colleges only 32 LISTS were received. We would like to encourage SRC members and students to work with their PEC members of SATVETSA to continue creating the lists and submit them every Wednesday so that they can be submitted to NSFAS. We can confirm that the majority of students who worked on some of them are now provisionally funded and NSFAS last week requested colleges to submit their registration data However there are many returning students who are still affected by the NSFAS policy, it is so that the NWC has called an urgent meeting with the NSFAS management to discuss the following points:

Deployment of NSFAS officials to visit campuses and work with students one-on-one.

• The policy section is disadvantaging returning students who had a gap year who aren’t funded.
• The pilot project on private accommodation
• 2022 outstanding allowances
• The urgent meeting with NSFAS Officials will be held on Friday 15 September 2023 to discuss the above-mentioned matters.

The idea of all NSFAS beneficiaries living in one place with the same allowances in the same environment is still imperative to the structure and the student population. We are simply calling for better accommodation with the same amount of allowances. The increase in allowance is still a call to the structure. The call for one TVET student and one laptop is still a call and a struggle of the structure.

We shall not sleep and we will not sleep until all students are equally accommodated.

Issued by NWC

National President 

Kgaogelo Chokoe 

Kgaogelofuture.ki@gmail.com 

Secretary General 

Wongani Mhlekazi Mgwali 

SATVETSA@GMAIL.COM 

073 807 7433 

For inquiries 

National Spokesperson 

Brian Zanazo 

zanazobrian@gmail.com

067 106 2548

Make TVET the institutions of choice