Withholding of Student Allowances

I am extremely disappointed with the way the Finance Department at Rosebank College is handling bursary funds. Students’ allowances are being withheld, and instead of honoring the agreement between our bursary and the institution that we would receive our book allowance in cash the department continues to change the story.

We are now being dictated to on how our allowances should be used, with repeated restrictions and unexplained deductions. Staff members, including Wintonisa Boesak and Tryphina Kekana, have been unhelpful and inconsistent in their communication.

Last year, we were told to order only from WizeBooks so that we would not experience delays in receiving our study material. Yet this year, not only have we been prevented from using our funds freely, but the institution has also failed to provide books through WizeBooks, while still forcing us to order from them. Many of us are now nearing the end of the semester without study materials, which is completely unacceptable.

It is deeply concerning that the institution seems more focused on benefiting from student allowances than ensuring students get the support they need to succeed academically. I urge urgent action to release students’ allowances in full, with transparency and respect for the agreements already in place.