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File photo: A UKZN student holds the shell of a bullet used during a protest on 23 March 2009. This student is not Lucky Nkalanga. Picture: Gcina Ndwalane
Student protests which started at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in Umlazi last Friday have spread and intensified at other tertiary education campuses in KwaZulu-Natal.
On Thursday, at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), six people were arrested for public violence after three vehicles were damaged, while the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Westville campus became the latest site of mass action.
Accommodation and financial aid remain the primary grievances.
Despite DUT’s high court interdict prohibiting protests, and a continued police presence, the institution confirmed that lectures had been disrupted at the Steve Biko, ML Sultan and Ritson Road campuses. However, the academic programme had not been suspended.
According to DUT spokesman Alan Khan, the protests were not being driven by the students representative council, but rather by the SA Students’ Congress (Sasco).
Sasco provincial chairman Mfanafuthi Ngobo confirmed this.
Khan said that DUT management would only negotiate with the SRC, “and not entertain individual clubs and societies. We have reiterated the need for the police to enforce the court interdict to protect our students and staff,” he said.
At Mangosuthu, after compromising on matters such as the cost of student transport and financial exclusions, accommodation remained a sticking point. Yesterday, tyres were burnt and chairs broken at the university, spokeswoman Mbali Mkhize said.
SRC president Sifiso Mvuyane said the protests would only be halted once housing was provided for at least 500 students at the Lonsdale Hotel in Pixley KaSeme (West) Street.
At UKZN, a crowd of 100 to 200 students chanted as they converged on university buildings, but protested peacefully under the eyes of campus security and police. University spokeswoman Nomonde Mbadi advised students to contact faculties for information on the rescheduling of lectures. - The Mercury
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Anonymous, wrote
It is so sad to read these unmotivating comments especial from management and recruiting companies and individuals.......people go to universities to get a education and their graduate, but this does not qualify them to be competent employees......so please let us train our South African graduate for countries future professinals.
Ray, wrote
I'm embarrassed to have a qualification from each of these once-respected institutions. Hardly worth the time, money and paper they are written on these days. What a disgrace!
zale, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
I turned down applications from 2 UKZN "graduates" (with verified qualifications) last year without interviewing them. They couldn't even fill in an application form correctly. Their salary expectations were mind blowing despite them applying for a junior position and having no prior work experience. Is this a sign of things to come on a broader scale?
Anonymous, wrote
I turned down applications from 2 UKZN "graduates" (with verified qualifications) last year without interviewing them. They couldn't even fill in an application form correctly. Their salary expectations were mind blowing despite them applying for a junior position and having no prior work experience. Is this a sign of things to come on a broader scale?
aNON, wrote
i served as an external examiner at ukzn...i walked away from that service due to the expectation that i was suppose to pass illiterate students which i refused. the standards have reduced...i dont even accept these students for training in my practice.
aha, wrote
And pray tell??? What level headed business person would want these violent unruly children working for them?? When they not happy at work ...would they then break our furnishings or set fore to our offices???
annie, wrote
And the sad and frustrating side of this, is there are some deserving students out there who did not get place, and more so have had to go overseas or out of town to study beacuse they did not make the quotas!!!
ex student, wrote
And the standard goes down. More useless graduates from KZN varsities will be flooding the market soon.
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