Students at the University of Limpopo in Turfloop outside Polokwane burned down parts of the institution's infrastructure and blockaded roads during a protest over unpaid off-campus allowances on Wednesday.
Gates were damaged, part of the perimeter fence was brought down, and fires affected a small area of the garages next to Gate 2.
The angry students also went on a rampage damaging shops closer to the university.

LEASE DOCUMENTS OUTSTANDING

Spokesperson for the institution, Johannes Selepe, said the protesting students started pushing the University gate and later set a small part of the buildings alight.
He added that the university executive management received a memorandum of demands from landlords and students.
"The protest was over non-payment of off campus accommodation allowance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). We have on numerous occasions requested the leases from the students and the landlords to no avail. The NSFAS policy is that there will be no accommodation allowance if there is no signed lease agreement. We are pleading with all landlords and students to ensure that they conclude their respective activities so that the university can facilitate the speedy resolution of the matter," Selepe said.The university pleaded with all landlords and students to ensure that they conclude their leases so that the University can facilitate the speedy resolution to the matter.
"We are committed to assist as we did by advancing the allowances as far as our cash flow allows. We are continuously liaising with NSFAS to promptly process allowances for concluded and verified cases " he said.

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THREE MONTHS UNPAID RENT

Mashala Lebepe (22), a Media Studies student, who rents a room off campus says that he has not been able to pay his landlord for over three months as the University failed to release their off campus allowance.                                                                                                                                                                                                             "I'm afraid I will soon be homeless. My landlord is tired of me giving her excuses and she has given me until the end of this month to pay or get out." Another student who didn't want to be named said they have been patient for too long and they are depressed and drowning in debts. "The management has failed us," he said. The university said the campus was operational and safe.