Carlo Petersen
CPUT management will oppose a court application filed by 78 students who have been prevented from writing exams due to their involvement in violent protests at the university.
The students were arrested and faced disciplinary action after CPUT was granted an interdict barring students from damaging university property during the #Fees MustFall protests last year.
An attorney for the students, Ayanda Mdanjelwa, filed an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court yesterday for the students to be allowed back on campus to complete their exams.
The students, who have been dubbed the #CPUT78, lined the stairway in front of the court every day this week as Mdanjelwa met university management in chambers.
Mdanjelwa said she had been negotiating to find a way for students to be re-enrolled at the university and write exams.
She said students also fear being evicted from residence after they were told to vacate their residences today and that they would be allowed to return only after they register.
“As I understand it, CPUT management has taken instruction from the university council to oppose the application.
“Their reasons are that some of the students were not registered students last year. Others were registered, but did not qualify to write exams because their course work was inadequate,” Mdanjelwa said.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the university viewed the case as criminal and confirmed the students’ application would be opposed.
“We can confirm that the matter is now in court and that we will be opposing the application. The vice-chancellor has indicated that he wants justice to take its course.”
CPUT #FeesMustFall co-leader Sapho Mahilihili said the students were confident of victory.
“We have already won this battle. The mere fact that we are here in court is already a victory. We must be defiant in the face of oppression.”
@carlo_petersen