SA students in Russia face eviction from residence

Over 200 South African students studying in Russia are facing eviction from their hostels and expulsion from institutions due to delayed payments by the department.

Several students have not been paid their stipends and were kicked out of hostels as landlords have also not been paid for months.

The Mpumalanga Department of Education has confirmed that there are currently 229 students who are furthering their studies in various fields of study such as Medicine, Veterinary Science, Engineering, Aeronautical  Science, Cyber security and IT in Russia.

The department’s spokesperson Jasper Zwane says placement of students abroad was facilitated by a contacted implementation agent.

"In the past, the placement of the students to various institutions was facilitated by a contracted implementation Agent called Green Tutu trading as RACUS whose contract has since expired as of March 2022.

"The department advertised a tender in October 2021 to solicit an implementing agent.  

"The department did not receive any responses and accordingly it was re-advertised this month of October 2022."

Zwane adds that students' stipends have been increased to R5000 per student.

"It is important to note that the department has since increased the stipend from R4000 to R5000 per student per month to mitigate the challenges that the students are experiencing as a result of the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine.

"During all this the department has been able to process the monthly stipend for all students except for 15 whose banking details were not fully operational."

But civil society movement We are South Africans spokesperson Gilbert Martin says the department has cancelled the contract with Green Tutu trading citing that it is expensive.

"The Mpumalanga Department of Education cancelled a contract with an implementation agent called Green Tutu trading as RACUS which was tasked with the placement of students to various institutions citing it as expensive. However, the contract reportedly expired in March 2022.

"Some of the students who have not yet been evicted have been given until Monday 10 October to pay accommodation fees or face being evicted."

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