THE Umkhonto weSizwe Youth League in Gauteng has called on students to put aside their political differences.
The party's youth league urged students to confront the government and demand free education.
On Friday, 16 February the youth league marched to the Department of Higher Education demanding the resignation of Minister Blade Nzimande, whom they accused of failing the students.
The protesters pointed out the living conditions of students, inadequate housing facilities and the late payment of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) loans by contractor Izaka, which is struggling to pay students on time, among other issues.
Siphesihle Thango, the MK Youth League regional coordinator for Tshwane, said: "Many students are unable to enrol because Nsfas has not paid the outstanding fees since 2023. Since they introduced this thing called Izaka, which is supposed to allocate money, they have committed very serious corruption."
He further said that students are now facing funding challenges and can't travel to their residences because of the outstanding money.
"Some students have been turned away from the Izaka system, so students are frustrated because they're housed in residential areas that are far from campus. Right now, we're demanding that Izaka must fall, and Blade Nzimande must go," he said.
He said they'll mobilise students from various youth structures to shut down all facilities if they don't get a response within seven days.
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MK Youth League deputy president Thapelo Maisha said they'll continue to be the voice of the voiceless, adding that they're not afraid to fight for free education for all students.
Handing over the memorandum, Mamosa Ramaisa, the spokeswoman for the league, said Nsfas should be available to all students because every student has a right to education.
"We demand the immediate upgrading of funded students so that they can enrol for free regardless of outstanding fees. We also demand that all historical debts dating back to 2017 be cancelled, especially after president Jacob Zuma's declaration of free education, so that graduates can get their qualifications and start looking for jobs," she said.
Ramaisa called for a forensic investigation into the corruption that occurred in the looting of student funds by Nsfas and Higher Education Department officials, as well as prosecution of those who embezzled student funds.
Receiving the memorandum, Reineth Mgiba, chief director in the office of the director general of the Department of Higher Education, said all issues raised had been heard and that the minister was working hard with Nsfas and the institutions to find a solution.
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