Bongwadi Bja Go Rothotha Bobodu

In progress...

On this post, I report on the developments that have occured regarding the ongoing discussed below.
Here is a recap, when some students on the Medunsa campus were allegedly informed that instead of receiving their full somewhere-in-the-thousands for the second semester meals in connection with services they had signed in to of an independent service provider on campus and that they had to settle for R1800 for the rest of the year, they knew that something was up but they didn't know the facts.
As a matter of fact, not everyone knows the facts unless you are holding a certain position that would qualify you to ask certain people certain questions at certain times.

But with there being questions, for there being answers is a must. As a result, I took another couple of steps to find out the situation underneath. At this time frame I can only connect the dots after interviewing the business personnel of the service provider who operates on the campus herein mentioned.

In this second semester, students' cards have probably no more than R2000. A big shame considering what they deserve, what they sould be getting. They can't live on this amount of money for five months. Something is not right.


The interview

It was on the first of August this year when I just had to speak to someone else whose got their claws into this saga. And the business manager could not have been any better to be at my disposal.
I asked him that I wanted the copy of the contract the students signed when they went into the agreement with his business services hoping that it would shed some perspective and he surely arranged for the copy to be send to me. When I asked him more questions he revealed that the financial offices and the university bureau who are handling the matter - there is something they are not doing by the book, something they're not suppose to do but because of reasons unknown they can't help themselves but figured to help themselves at a cost... He mentioned names. But I may not mention names if I know better...
On that week as well, the so-called student representative counsel (SRC) were holding talks to try to find a solution to this matter.
Knowing that these talks have been going on for months, there was nothing to be excited about, and taking into account that's not the only meal they have on their platter of course. Regardless, the students had ought to receive the progress report without hassel now.

The bureau

The financial offices personnel are aware of the students' dissatisfaction and are turning hands sloppy as to do anything about it. When probed, they resorted that the students are suppose to use their so-called monthy allowance for meals despite the inadequacy of its amount. And that the money that was going into meals account will now flow towards the laundry services.
But had the students being aware of this in the first place or had they been warned, they would not have made such decisions. They would have known not to opt for wants instead of one of their basic needs; food.

So far, there is a discrepancy from both sources I interviewed in terms of where the problem lies.

The conflict

If the service provider approached the university with the good of intentions and a business purpose, it is only logical to think that the university liked his plans and intend to help with laundry.
As a results, they signed a five year agreement contract that laundry service business was to run with no intervention.
There was already a well established market and little or no competition.
Somewhere along the line there was a conflict to discourage the consumers from going to the services which they well find useful. If the business loses market it will go out of business and the students will be screwed once more.
Why would the financial bureau not see that and/or ignore that? Because there is conflict and their war does not allow them to violate the terms and requirements of the contract they signed with the laundry service provider. As such, take out the customers.

The dots

Although, I may not expose and reveal all of the information here, I think this article will tell you of something you didn't know and by that guide you in making decision in the future about the reality of this place and people. I sure wish I can share more details.

The SRC

The SRC in their limited allocation of power indicates how powerless the students have become, and how vulnerable they are. The SRC finds itself being tossed between two sides like tennis ball on the playfield. Although, they try all they could to resolve the matter behind closed doors and with no feedback to the very same people they're trying to represent, it has been a long time coming. And it is likely to continue in this tasteless fashion.