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This is how a South African final-year student studying computer science at the Moscow State University of Technology and Management in Russia describes her life. She has been evicted from her lodgings and faces deportation in two weeks’ time.
Tumisang Maheso is one of more than 200 students funded by the Mpumalanga education department to study medicine and information technology at universities in Russia.
In October, it was reported that a group of about 229 students there were facing eviction and were not attending classes, as the department had allegedly failed to pay their tuition and accommodation fees.
READ: SA students in Russia treated abysmally
During the same month, the department announced that it had paid R28 million to the department of international relations and cooperation to disburse to the Russian universities for the overdue tuition and accommodation fees.
However, at that time, a group of about 25 students had yet to be paid.
“I’ve pleaded for months and exhausted all possible resources in the department and the media alike,” says a distraught Maheso.
She believes that her studies might be coming to a premature end as her tuition fees have not been paid and she has been put on academic leave.
“As a result, I’m unable to extend my student visa and the expiry date’s fast approaching. I don’t have a place to stay, as I’ve been evicted from my accommodation and, in two weeks’ time, I’ll be in this country illegally,” she says.
READ: SA students face expulsion and deportation from Russian institutions
Maheso says she is currently squatting with some friends, adding: “It seems as if no one cares about my eviction. It happened about three weeks ago, after the Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, came to Russia and visited where I was staying. Unfortunately, two days later, I was [told I had to leave my lodgings]. I’m barely surviving because I haven’t been receiving any stipend from the Mpumalanga education department. There are students who got back-payments, but I never received anything,” she says.
She adds that the students’ scholarships to Russia have transformed many of them into open-minded, educated individuals who have a lot to offer their province.
“I desperately need to extend my visa while I work towards paying for my tuition. I need 195 000 roubles, which is the equivalent of R55 000, for a one-year visa extension. As soon as the extension’s granted, I’ll be able to have my academic leave lifted and complete my degree. At this moment, I’d appreciate any assistance,” says Maheso.
A letter from the department, signed by its head, Lucy Moyane and dated December 12, detailed an update and a way forward for the Mpumalanga-Russian Federation scholarship programme.
According to the letter, the department received invoices from three Russian universities and payments were effected to them.
The universities are the Moscow Aviation Institute, the Saratov State Agrarian University and the North Caucasus Federal University.
“Five other universities gave invoices that were noncompliant, as the letterheads were from universities, but with the banking details of Racus [the main student recruiter for Russian universities in South Africa]. The Public Finance Management Act and Treasury regulations do not allow payments to a third party who has no legal contract with the department. These universities have been advised to issue new invoices and provide their own banking details as soon as possible,” read the letter.
READ: Race to place students from Ukraine and Russia in local universities
Moyane added that four of the five universities had not yet responded to the request to reissue their invoices.
She wrote that, during a sitting of the executive council last week, it was resolved that the department would pay costs only if universities complied with the prescribed South African supply chain management procedure and findings raised by the Auditor-General.
“If there are Russian universities willing to work directly with the department and comply with its requirements, then students can be transferred to [those] universities. Students who do not meet the conditions of the scholarship (unduly benefited) will have to pay for themselves and refund the state for expenses already incurred over the years, including those who have already graduated. The department should enforce compliance with the provincial bursary policy and, as such, it cannot pay for students who are repeating courses,” read the letter.
Moyane wrote that the department was aware that some students had been given notices of expulsion and she advised them to consider taking academic leave while the matter was being resolved.
The students, she added, needed to provide the department with their academic records as soon as possible to facilitate the transfer process.
“There are about 27 students who have either exceeded their contracts’ duration or have not complied with the provisions of the provincial bursary policy. These students have been asked to submit requests for an extension and also motivate why the department should grant it to them. The department remains committed to funding and supporting deserving students from the province. At this point, all energies are channelled towards finding a lasting resolution of the matter,” wrote Moyane.
