DISGRUNTLED Giyani, Limpopo, residents took to the streets on Monday, 12 February to demand answers from the Department of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation about the establishment of a Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Giyani campus.
This after Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande visited the old Giyani college in September 2022, and indicated plans to re-establish the college as a TUT Giyani campus set to start operating in 2024.
On Monday, residents blocked several key entry points into Giyani town with burning tyres and rocks to voice their concerns about the delays in the re-establishment of the campus.
A 22-year-old resident told Daily Sun they were angry as the project to turn the old Giyani college into a TUT campus is delayed.
“Most of us have passed matric with good marks but are struggling to get space at institutions of higher learning. We were promised that this institution would start taking students, which didn't happen. We demand clarity from Minister Nzimande,” he said.
Chairman of Giyani Concerned Residents, Vusi Chauke said government has robbed residents of Giyani and surrounding areas of quality higher education.
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“Minister Nzimande came here and gathered the community, chiefs and political heads and promised that the college would be refurbished and turned into a TUT Giyani campus, which wasn't the case. We demand the minister to explain why it's still not open and no progress in place,” he said.
Daily Sun asked the Higher Education spokesman, Veli Mbele, who said the minister was aware of the information circulating on social media.
“It's designed to create a false impression that the minister was blocking or deliberately delaying the finalisation of the establishment of the TUT Giyani campus,” he said.
Mbele said an agreement on the way forward was reached on 16 October 2023.
“Notwithstanding this delay, in September 2023, the minister allocated R31,916 million to TUT for the university to carry out refurbishments and deferred maintenance on existing facilities upon the completion of a feasibility study.
“TUT will now commence with the refurbishment and deferred maintenance in February, which will enable the first intake of students during the 2025 academic year,” he said.
