ENG1504 Assignment 1 (DETAILED ANSWERS) Semester 1 2025 - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED

ENG1504 Assignment 1 (DETAILED ANSWERS) Semester 1 2025 - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED Answers, guidelines, workings and references ,... QUESTION 1: MINUTES OF A MEETING BACKGROUND Most of the students at Gauteng College applied to the National Student Financial Aid Department for funding to pay tuition fees. However, not all the students received funding. As a result, they mostly owed the institution tuition fees. The college has already submitted some of the debts to the debtors’ office for further investigation. Most of the ENN1504/01/2025 2 students could be deregistered, blacklisted, or not receive their results at the end of the year if their fees are not paid in full. The Financial Manager of the college, Mr Selby, called a meeting with the College Board members, the students’ parents, and members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) to discuss different ways in which parents could be assisted to resolve their financial problems and pay tuition fees owed to the college. INSTRUCTIONS Below is a transcript (exact words written down) of what was said under the relevant agenda item that discussed non-payment of tuition fees, among other matters at a recent meeting held. As the minuting secretary of the Finance Department at Gauteng College, it is your duty to take minutes during meetings. Most of the students at Gauteng College did not qualify to be funded by the National Student Financial Aid Department and they therefore owed the institution tuition fees. The institution tried to come up with different ways of assisting students and parents to resolve their financial problems and pay tuition fees. The matter was discussed under agenda item 4.1. Students’ tuition fees debts. Write the minutes for agenda item 4.1 only. This means that the complete format for minutes is not required. Remember that in taking minutes, we carefully select and summarise information, and make changes to style and grammar. Note that you should not record what each person said in turn. You should use the linear format of minutes (in sentences and paragraphs). Your answer should not exceed ONE page in length. TRANSCRIPT Mr Selby (Chair): Ladies and gentlemen, we have so far addressed most of the crucial issues that are affecting the broader society and our immediate families, such as high student drop-out and failure rates. We are all aware of our country’s declining economy especially after the outbreak of Covid19, load shedding and the high level of corruption in the country. Most members of our households are unemployed as a result. The socio-economic decline of the country directly or ENN1504/01/2025 3 indirectly affects the smooth running of some institutions of learning like ours, which depends on the tuition fees paid by the parents. I am aware that most of the students applied for funding through the National Student Financial Aid Department. Unfortunately, not all our students were lucky enough to get approval and receive the funding. About 60% of the students, therefore, owe their tuition fees. This makes it very difficult for the college to sustain itself because it is through the tuition fees that a lot of debts are covered, including electricity and water bills. The lecturers employed on fixed-term contracts get paid through the tuition fees. Resources such as computers, library books, sport equipment, to name a few, are purchased through that money as well. Without tuition fees, the institution cannot survive. The challenge we are faced with is, how can we help each other to resolve the students’ debts to sustain the institution? I therefore suggest that we discuss agenda item 4.1: Students’ tuition fees debts. Mr Moss: Thank you very much, Chair. The College Board acknowledges the financial struggles that the parents are going through. It is just unfortunate that the National Students’ Financial Aid Department is unable to fund every applicant for various reasons. Thus far, the College Board has recommended that some of the debtors be handed over to the credit bureau for further investigations. Ms Small: Ladies and gentlemen! Finances are a very sensitive topic. Most of us parents are really trying hard to make payments, but like you already said, Chair, it is such a struggle. One of the reasons why I, and maybe most of us parents, struggle to pay our children’s tuition fees is that we are over-indebted. I heard about debt counselling over the radio and TV and visited one of the National Credit offices to find out if I could not get assistance with debt- ENN1504/02/2024 4 counselling and advice on how to meet my debt repayments. The counsellor explained the process of how an over-indebted consumer can apply for his/her debt to be restructured so that he or she could pay household expenses and still be able to pay off such other debts as college fees at the end of each month. If you are battling with debt, debt-counselling may be one way out of a tight spot without having your goods repossessed, getting blacklisted by a credit bureau, or getting your child suspended or kicked out of the college. Ms Zondi: I agree with Ms Small. Debt counselling could be one of the options for saving our children from being expelled from the college because of unpaid tuition fees. However, we also need to be careful about some of the disadvantages of the debt counselling process. The process involves reducing your monthly payments on your debts, but it will take longer for you to settle the amount you owe, and you will pay more interest as well. Another drawback is that, while under debt counselling, you are unable to get more credit or use your pre- existing credit facilities. The debt counselling process is also not free, as debt counsellors also receive 5% as a monthly after-care fee. So, do not think about debt counselling as an easy way out; it is a tough process that demands commitment and sacrifice from you. I therefore suggest that we should also consider other ways of dealing with our tuition debts before we enter the debt- counselling process. One option could be to make arrangements with Gauteng College to change our payment terms and maybe allow for longer term payments. ENN1504/01/2025 5 Ms Moima: The Student Representative Council has been debating about student tuition fee debts and how we could help each other to resolve the problem. We also agree that over-indebted parents can opt for debt counselling if possible. Additionally, we also think that the student body should think about fundraising events such as marathons or sports tournaments, beauty pageants, and others, which can assist students who are struggling with tuition fees. Different local businesses could be approached for sponsorship of such events. Representatives from different banks can be invited to the college to share information with students about available student loans from the banks. Mr Moss: In one of the recent College Board meetings, it was proposed that the college establish an academic award committee which would look at different accolades that students could compete for and be awarded bursaries. These accolades would relate to academic achievement, achievement in sports, academic debates, outstanding short stories or the most interesting college articles. Different college departments could suggest categories and criteria on the basis of which high achievers could be awarded bursaries. Mr Selby: Ladies and gentlemen, It looks like we have exhausted different ways of assisting each other to raise funds to cover tuition fees. Are there any additional strategies that you can think of? Mr Moss: I think we have exhausted different fundraising strategies. However, we can also establish a suggestion box in which students can post additional academic MINUTES OF A MEETING BACKGROUND Madikoe Holdings is a property agent contracted to manage San Packett Residential Property owned by Ms Louisa. This property is situated in the precinct of Santa Mario city. For the past 15 years the property generated a revenue of R5,5 million per annum. However, in the past three years, from 2022 to 2024, the revenue has dropped significantly by 50% since Madikoe Holdings was contracted to manage the residential property. The apartments are dilapidated, lifts are not working, and there is no security personnel to control access of visitors to the building. Ms Louisa has called an urgent meeting with the Body Corporate, Management of Madikoe Holdings, and representatives of the tenants to discuss strategies to return the building to its original state. INSTRUCTIONS Below is a transcript (exact words written down) of what was said under the relevant agenda item 2.1 presented in the form of a dialogue. As the secretary of the body corporate, it is your duty to take minutes during meetings. At this point, the meeting is discussing agenda item 2.1: strategies to return the San Packett Residential Property to its original state. Write minutes of the meeting for agenda 2.1 only. This means that the complete format for minutes is not required. Remember that in taking minutes, we carefully select and summarise information, and make changes to style and grammar. Note that you should not record what each person said in turn. You should use the linear format (in sentences and paragraphs) of minutes. Your minutes should be about 1 page in length. TRANSCRIPT: Mr Donaldson (Chair): It’s my pleasure to welcome you in this meeting, although it was called at short notice. Ladies and gentlemen, without any waste of time, I want us to move to agenda item 2.1 strategies to return the San Packett Residential Property to its original state. We all know that our rental business at San Packett Residential Property has collapsed. The property is vandalised and tenants have terminated their lease agreements- very little income is generated. Ms Mthombeni: It’s a pity that we can’t unscramble eggs. If I knew who these vandals are, and who is looting the funds that were intended for managing this property, I would ensure that they are locked in jail, and keys are thrown away forever. Guys, I don’t think you know who I am! Do you? Ms Louisa: Ms Mthombeni, we understand your frustration as one of the tenants who has been renting a flat in this property for donkeys’ years. The property was indeed everything to you! Now, let’s discuss the matter at hand about returning the residential property to its original state. Think about new strategies that can be used to change the status quo of this property, it could be in terms of raising funds, better ways to manage the property or anything else. Mr Donaldson: I fully agree with you, Ms Louisa. Stop complaining and provide suggestions, please? Dr Farai: As a member of the body corporate, I think it could be advisable that we apply for a bank loan so that the property is refurbished. What about applying for a R2 million loan? Is that too much or too little? Mr Phenyo: Oh, my goodness! How on earth can you just simply suggest such exorbitant amounts of money. Do you know what is the monthly repayment amount for this R2 million? To be orderly, this is what should be done. We should first hire a contractor who will inspect the damages on the property and provide a quotation of building material needed for refurbishment. Furthermore, the quotation should also include labour expenses. Dr Farai: Mr Phenyo, you are unnecessarily complicating things here. Now we need to think about a qualified contractor who can provide a quotation for the above-mentioned things. Additionally, who will pay for this quotation because it’s not free of charge? DSC1630 Ms Louisa: Gentlemen, there is no need to fight about this issue of money now. We have a matter that needs our undivided attention. Anyway, I am ready to pay for the contractor’s call out fee. Companies do not charge for quotation. Gen Sithole: On Friday last week, while jogging along Tambo street, I saw Mr Sadiki’s company refurbishing a dilapidated shopping complex. Apart from this project, this company has built five properties and completed them on time in our neighbourhood. We can also request the secretary of the body corporate to look for other renowned companies and the necessary vetting can be done. FAC1502 Do you support my suggestions, ladies and gentlemen? All: Yes sir! Ms Louisa: From here, what is our next step? Ms Thembeka: When a suitable contractor is hired, we request him/her to email us the quotation in three weeks. Then, Ms Louisa should approach the banks to apply for a loan. Once the loan is approved, the refurbishment process may commence as soon as possible. Mr Boyza: How do you commence with refurbishment process when there are tenants inside the building? FAC1501 I suggest that we give them a 30-day notice to vacate the building. Those who might not want to leave the property, should be dealt with by law enforcement officers, I mean the Green Berets group. Ms Louisa: Oh please colleagues, that would be too harsh. Let us rather hold a meeting with the tenants and negotiate with them to allow us space and time to return the property to its original state. As we are about to conclude this meeting, I must announce to everyone present here that we have terminated our service contract with Madikoe Holdings because of the mismanagement of funds and negligence of our property. Advocate Ntshali has already written a letter and his secretary has delivered it to their offices. Mr Donaldson: I am happy about this decision and I propose closure of this meeting. All: Supported chair! DSC1520