Pretoria - Striking outsourced general workers at universities have vowed to defy court orders prohibiting them from protesting at Unisa and the University of Pretoria (UP).
Violent protests by the workers forced the city’s tertiary institutions to close for most of last week. Both Unisa and UP subsequently obtained court orders to stop the workers from protesting on their campuses.
Academic activities were expected to resume on Monday at Unisa despite the threats of more disruptions by the general workers.
The University of Pretoria would remain closed because of the continuing threats of intimidation and protests, spokeswoman Anne-Retha Bouwer said. The varsity would communicate directly with parents and students about any new developments, she said.
The university’s commission on insourcing met workers’ representatives on Saturday to discuss their demands, but no agreement was reached.
Bouwer said senior students could continue to register online. However, online registration for first-year students would commence in earnest on Monday.
The university cancelled its Welcome Day, which was scheduled for Saturday.
Unisa principal and vice-chancellor Professor Mandla Makhanya said they would continue to do all necessary to ensure the safety of staff and students and restore normal functioning of the university.
Meanwhile, Tshwane University of Technology’s Willa de Ruyter said online registration would open on Monday.
Mametlwe Sebei, on behalf of the workers, said: “We are not going to relent on the basis that the management of these institutions have resorted to courts. I don’t think there is any court that can say workers must be forced to work.”
The leader of the Workers and Socialist Party, which is at the forefront of the #OutsourcingMustFall campaign, held a media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday. He announced plans to mobilise more outsourced workers to participate in the planned protests this week.
Workers are demanding permanent posts and pay of R10 000.
Sebei said the campaign was supported by the EFF Student Command and students in general.
Some striking workers were arrested on Friday at TUT, but Sebei said the prosecutor dismissed the charges. He also claimed that at UP, there was a group of academics who were in full support of their strike.
Plans were afoot to lobby for more support from other outsourced workers in the city with a view to stage a mass action, he said.
Sebei said the anticipated protest would make sure that activities and services in the city were paralysed.
On Saturday, the workers met at Burgers Park to take stock. Their leaders said they would convene a meeting with students to talk about the campaign to halt outsourcing.
Last week workers marched to TUT campus, but police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at them.
They trashed the streets and intimidated members of the public and motorists.
Pretoria News