Police and private security personnel were forced to fire rubber bullets to disperse protesting students at Nelson Mandela University’s Summerstrand campus in Gqeberha on Monday, as tensions over funding and registration boiled over.
Students barricaded the main entrance with burning tyres and debris, disrupting access to the campus in the Eastern Cape. The protest stems from grievances related to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and ongoing challenges with online registration.
Spokesperson for the Student Representative Council (SRC), clearance SMS, voiced frustration over the handling of funding applications. “Most of students didn’t get the clearance. The mercy and the concession this year has rejected the down payment, has rejected everyone. I don’t know what happened to the system,” he said.
In response, university management confirmed that engagement with the SRC is ongoing. A university spokesperson stated: “University management has been actively engaging the Student Representative Council. Matters that were previously raised as demands have been addressed, and outstanding issues remain under consideration through established engagement processes involving the SRC.”
No injuries have been reported, and authorities remain on alert as the situation develops.