The UP SRC Solidarity Fund has been established as a collaborative effort of the UP SRC as well as the university’s Faculty Houses and Day Houses. According to a statement issued by the fund, the aim of the fund is to assist day students “who have absolutely no financial means during the COVID-19 pandemic.” In the statement, they also explained that they have been approached by students who expressed that they are without any means of access to provisions like groceries, essential toiletries and data.

The fund explained that financial need and a student being a day student will be the criteria that they will consider, and encouraged all day students to apply. They said “consideration will be given to exceptional circumstances. Students in extreme situations are encouraged to indicate their circumstances so that we may try to accommodate them”. Lorrainga Mothokwa, SRC Ex-Officio for Academics and Chairperson of House Humanities who, together with the Chairperson for Law House, heads the academics sub-council and is involved in the administration and data collection of the fund, said that “student leaders have been working around the clock throughout lockdown to assist students with their needs.” She further said that they are proud of the efforts made through the TuksRes Solidarity Fund and that is where they saw the need to aid day students as well.

Mothokwa told PDBY that the fund is being run by a task team of the SRC, Faculty Houses, Day Houses, DSA and Student Development Personnel. “The Fund is being sourced from the SRC budget along with contributions from the budgets of day houses and faculty houses” she said.The fund is expected to operate “with two intake periods which will be communicated, students can apply using the Google Forms link https://forms.gle/NLnv31UpkJQWkEXWA and we welcome and encourage donations to increase the scope of students that we are able to reach” she added.

According to Mothokwa, the fund is expected to aid 337-day students and donations are encouraged to reach more students, assistance will be provided to students to an amount not higher than R400. In explaining how the funds will be disbursed to aid students, Mothokwa explained that “it will depend on the needs of individual students and the logistics are still being finalised.” Those who wish to make a contribution to the fund can contact the fund administrators at src.solidarityfund@gmail.com for further information on how to make donations.

JAMEO CALVERT

PDBY is the official student newspaper of the University of Pretoria.
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