JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — Students at the Central Johannesburg TVET College have taken to the streets to demand the immediate resignation of the institution’s acting principal, citing severe allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and an ongoing NSFAS crisis that has left hundreds in financial distress.
The protest comes as student leaders revealed that a formal petition demanding the acting principal’s removal has already garnered over 1,000 signatures. According to the demonstrators, the acting principal has held the position for two years and two months. This tenure allegedly violates the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) mandate, which strictly dictates that no TVET college principal should serve in an acting capacity for more than 12 months.
Beyond the leadership dispute, protesters highlighted a litany of systemic failures plaguing the institution. The Student Representative Council (SRC) chairperson, addressed the gathering, detailing how students have been evicted and left without adequate accommodation. Furthermore, learners have not received their NSFAS allowances since January due to repeated administrative errors by the college management.
He explained that the SRC has been attempting to resolve the NSFAS data discrepancies for over six months. Despite repeatedly submitting the required Excel spreadsheets of student data as requested by management, the issues remain unresolved. This administrative backlog has now reached a critical point, preventing students from registering for the new semester.
The student leaders also raised serious concerns about the victimization of those who speak out. The chairperson noted that the SRC has been systematically silenced, with both the SRC president and the chairperson facing suspension after advocating for student rights and raising concerns about the college’s governance.
In response to the escalating crisis, the student body has formally requested intervention from the national government. The SRC confirmed that they have directly emailed the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, and the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Yusuf Cassim, urging them to step in and assist.
Following these appeals, the head of the department has reportedly arrived at the college and is currently engaged in resolving the issues alongside CJC management and the SRC. As of now, the college management has yet to issue a public response to the allegations or the students’ demands.
