By Zuko Komisa
South African medical students studying in Russia face deportation and expulsion.
Since 229 South African students in Russia brought their suffering to the SA government’s attention more than a month ago, nothing has been done to assist them. The students now have to leave campus and move out by November 10.
At the Saratov Chernyshevsky State University, 40 medical students have already been prohibited from attending lessons.
Many of them were deprived of their monthly stipends for four months.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke Astra Gaan who is one of the students facing deportation and expulsion.
LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE:
The students were taken to Russia by the Mpumalanga Department of education, this was a program they had for their medical students to go study abroad.
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Astra Khan spoke about what is currently happening to the students.
“We have made a few applications and have even written a letter to the Minister because of the way we were communicating with the embassy and the HOD we realised we were not getting any movement, and we then wrote to the premier because the situation was getting very urgent. Thus far there’s no payment.”
“We are receiving our stipend but the money for tuition is the money we are not receiving, so we are forced to use the stipend money we are receiving for accommodation because living in Russia requires you to have a registration and if you don’t have that you are living illegally staying in Russia and you are bound to be arrested.” said Gaan.
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