Hunger halts lectures as Sefako Makgatho students demand unpaid allowances

Hunger halts lectures as Sefako Makgatho students demand unpaid allowances

By mid-morning in Ga-Rankuwa, lecture halls that should have been buzzing with first-term momentum fell quiet. Instead of textbooks and lab coats, frustration took centre stage as students at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University downed tools in a temporary shutdown over unpaid allowances.

The protest, led by the student representative council (SRC), brought classes to a standstill as students voiced what many described as an impossible reality: trying to study while hungry.

“You can’t learn on an empty stomach”

According to SRC president Mthokozisi Dlamini, the academic year began more than a month ago but for many students, the financial support meant to carry them through has yet to arrive.

That delay has had real consequences. Without living and food allowances, students say they’ve been left scrambling to survive, let alone keep up with demanding health sciences coursework that requires focus, materials and long hours on campus.

“It is both inhumane and unreasonable to expect students to meaningfully participate in academic activities while facing hunger and financial hardship,” Dlamini said.

In a country where student funding delays have repeatedly sparked protests from Cape Town to Limpopo the situation struck a familiar nerve online. On social media, students from other universities shared similar stories, while others questioned how future healthcare professionals are expected to train under such strain.

Total shutdown to force action

The SRC declared a total shutdown, suspending academic activities until the outstanding allowances were paid directly into students’ bank accounts. The message was clear: no money, no lectures.

Dlamini warned that continuing under the current conditions would only deepen inequality on campus, with students from poorer backgrounds bearing the brunt of administrative delays.

Calm restored after talks with management

By later in the day, tensions eased following what the university described as constructive engagement with student leadership. In a statement, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University confirmed the protest and said access to campus facilities had been restored.

“Management engaged directly and constructively with student leadership and an understanding was reached,” the university said, adding that campus operations had since stabilised.

The institution emphasised its commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue and partnership with the SRC rather than prolonged disruption.

What went wrong with the allowances?

The university explained that student allowances are administered through established funding partners, including Fundi, a national bursary and education finance administrator responsible for processing payments into student accounts.

According to management, corrective measures were put in place, with distribution expected to be finalised by the end of the day. However, they cautioned that payment reflection times can differ depending on individual banks.

“The focus remains on safeguarding academic progress and ensuring no student’s studies are compromised due to administrative processing timelines,” the statement said.

A bigger issue in higher education

While the immediate protest has been resolved, the incident highlights a deeper, recurring problem in South Africa’s higher education system: when funding systems falter, students pay the price first.

For many at Sefako Makgatho, the shutdown wasn’t just about money it was about dignity, survival and the basic ability to learn. As one student posted online during the protest: “We’re not asking for luxury. We’re asking to eat.”

Whether the promised payments fully materialise and on time may determine if calm truly holds on campus in the days ahead.

{Source: The Citizen}

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