Cape Town - UCT will remain shut for another week and there will be no graduation ceremonies this year, vice-chancellor Max Price has announced.
The university has decided to push the academic calendar back by two weeks in order to make up for lost time and ensure exams will still go ahead.
All classes will be suspended until next week Monday, and the libraries will remain closed until then. However, staff will continue to work and the Jammie Shuttle will run.
“The decision to suspend lectures is not taken lightly. The university executive, together with the vast majority of staff and students, would undoubtedly prefer to keep the campus open. But we also have to take responsible measures to ensure personal safety, and to protect our premises,” Price wrote to students and parents.
He said keeping the campus open in the present climate of protest action would mean a large force of private security guards would have to be hired to keep the facilities safe.
“After widespread consultation, however, I am convinced that bringing security and police on to campus will make things worse if we have not first engaged with all parties in an attempt to convince most of them that we are listening and hearing, and serious in wanting to address legitimate issues,” Price said.
The free time left by cancelled classes will be dedicated to discussions about the way forward.
“We are asking faculties to use the week to organise discussions between students and staff to hear their issues and suggest ways forward,” Price said.
“We wish, in addition, to engage nationally this week with all vice-chancellors and with (Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande) to see if we can find a formula that recognises the legitimate challenges of affordability and commits to a time-frame to address these.”
He said if discussions fail and disruption continues beyond this week, the last resort would be to bring in heavy private security.
“We wish to get to a place where we can open without security - but also to ensure that if we need security, everyone will understand what that means and that all other options have been exhausted.
“It is unfortunately a grave reality that if we do not return to normal classes on October 3, our ability to make up additional lost teaching days will be very complicated with severe consequences.”
Already, the consequences are being felt by students who were due to graduate this year.
“Sadly, we will not be able to hold graduations this year. Official transcripts will be issued, and students and their families can return to a graduation ceremony in June 2017,” Price said.
Meanwhile, Rhodes University has issued communication from the office of vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela saying if normal activities cannot resume this week, the campus would be closed for the rest of the year.
“Continued instability will destroy our higher education system. If normal activities cannot continue (this) week, the university will be left with no option but to close and send all students home. Think hard about your actions.”