TUT denies student lock-up report

Tshwane University of Technology in Soshanguve. File photo: Masi Losi

Tshwane University of Technology in Soshanguve. File photo: Masi Losi

Published May 13, 2014

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Pretoria - A media report on students who locked up their lecturers at the Tshwane University of Technology's Soshanguve campus is not true, the institution said on Tuesday.

“The allegation being broadcast in the media regarding students who have locked staff... in classrooms on Monday May 12 is void of any truth and misrepresenting the university,” spokeswoman Willa de Ruyter said in a statement.

She said the report was broadcast by the SABC without giving the university a right of reply, and called for it to be recalled.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the university had two options to deal with the matter.

“Sending a statement does not help. They should approach us or go the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA). What do they expect us to do if they have not approached us?”

He said the broadcaster did not find anything wrong with the story, based on the facts it had.

On Monday, the SABC reported that students at the Soshanguve campus had locked their lecturers up.

“What is happening is that we are having unrests inside our campus due to the fact that students are dissatisfied about the administration of the bursaries,” Student Representative Council (SRC) chairman Mishack Nkuna was quoted as saying.

He reportedly said students had applied for bursary and travel allowances from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) at the beginning of the year, but the university had not processed them.

De Ruyter said Nkuna was not SRC president.

“We don't even have a student registered by that name.”

She said she contacted the broadcaster on Monday evening after she was told the story was aired on Motsweding FM.

She was told the story would be retracted, and when it was aired again on Tuesday she called again.

“The story is false. There have been no protests at the campus. Yesterday 1/8Monday 3/8 and today 1/8Tuesday 3/8. I have spoken to the NSFAS office and there are no problems.”

Kganyago said he was not aware of De Ruyter's calls.

“Do it in writing. All we have is her word against the person who answered the phone.”

Sapa

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