STUDYING at all the Port Elizabeth College campuses came to a standstill yesterday as students continued their protest against the non-payment of National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary money.
Hundreds of students were bused in from the various campuses to protest outside the Russell Road campus yesterday amid a heavy police presence.
Armed with broomsticks, mops, rulers, equipment boxes and placards, students blocked traffic at the Russell Road and Rink Street intersection, forcing traffic to reroute, though some cars forced their way through.
Students were demanding answers regarding funds due to them.
Student representative council member Bach Motsie said the management had yesterday assured students that they would use the rest of this week to see which students had received their transport money and registration reimbursement fees and settle the remainder over the next two weeks.
"The college told us that they had not received money from NSFAS, which is why some students had to fork out registration fees from their own pockets, and it was expected at the start of the new financial year,” he said.
But NSFAS chief executive Nkosinathi Khena denied having received any bursary claims from the college.
This sparked confusion among students, some of whom say they incurred debts to get this far in the academic year after being "approved for the bursary”.
