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UJ students protest as accommodation rentals get politicised
Thursday June 11 was an eventful day in Auckland Park,Johannesburg when a fully-fledged student movement sought to cause pandemonium in order to challenge “high” accommodation rental fees charged by the management of Thrive Student Living. The protest followed a series of back and forth confrontation between Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) student representatives, students and the management.
The students claim that the accommodation residence is exploiting them because they are obligated to pay additional rental fees on top of the standard rate that is being paid by NSFAS. The standard accommodation funds that are allocated by government bursary is R5200 and the rental fees at the accommodation soar as far as up to +R7000.
EFF intervention
Visibly seen was the red regalia of the EFF student command leading the protest, butting heads with police and security personnel. The EFF student leaders claim that the student residence buildings under Thrive Student living namely; Kingsway Place, Richmond Corner and Horizon Heights are exploiting students by demanding rentals that are beyond the affordability of students. During the protests students were instructed to remain inside of the buildings, causing an clamour and frustrating students who were due to write exams.
The student leaders of the EFF branch at the Kingsway Campus at the University of Johannesburg are known for visiting student residences to monitor the living conditions of students and intervening whenever there are issues between the management and students. In the past two weeks they marched twice to the premises of the premium student accommodation which are located on the same street just a few minutes away from the campus to echo in one voice in attempts to get the management to scrap the “top up” fees.
Words of the student leaders:
Lwazi Sithole, the chairperson of the APK branch of the EFF Youth Command had this to say;
“As far as I’m concerned, most institutions are aware of this issue as it’s not the first time it’s being raised, even last year it was raised and the management of Thrive student living scrapped the top ups but now we are shocked because they are now telling our students that if you can’t pay this top up just leave and we know that our students want accommodations that are around Auckland Park and closer to campus”
Legal intervention:
On Friday 12, he went on to open a case at the Brixton Police Station against Thrive Student Living for the unlawful detention and intimidation of students during the protests. The student organisation went further and released a statement stating, “No private accommodation has the right to lock students inside buildings and treat them as prisoners. The EFFYC will continue to fight tirelessly until justice is served and the exploitation of NSFAS students comes to an end”
It remains what the verdict will be and the resultant fate of the students.
