Cape Town - As the shutdown of UCT campuses continues into its second week, students struggling to keep up with their course work are being thrown a lifeline.
The Progressive Youth Alliance – a group of senior students – has arranged a “teach-in” on Tuesday and Wednesday, which gives students access to peers, tutors and academics to ensure none are left behind.
The aim of the campaign, called Protest and Pass, is to ensure students are adequately prepared when classes eventually resume. The teach-in takes place on all the institution’s campuses and will incorporate all fields of study.
There is also an accompanying textbook and stationery drive where students are being urged to donate learning and course materials no longer in use so that students who are unable to afford new textbooks have access to them.
A number of students, frustrated with the shutdown, have expressed the desire to return to class and continue with examinations, but ongoing protests are preventing them from doing so.
On Monday, protesting students campaigning against outsourcing brought construction at a UCT residence to a halt, while others disrupted exams.
At UWC, students also disrupted classes and examinations and chased students and staff off the campus for refusing to join in the protest.
undefinedUCT will remain closed until Friday, while CPUT will conduct further meetings to discuss when it would reopen for classes. UWC remains shut.
In a statement, UWC said examinations would commence on November 2.
“While UWC respects the right for students to protest, the university categorically condemns all acts of vandalism and the intimidation of students and staff. UWC hopes that the closure will assist in providing the required space for different groupings to engage as we all search for solutions that will restore stability on campus.”
Early on Monday a car was set alight, allegedly by a petrol bomb, outside a UCT residence in Mowbray.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the incident: “The fire is believed to have started from the inside of the vehicle. A case of malicious damage to property has been registered for investigation.”
Where students from various movements have displayed a united front in the #FeesMustFall demonstrations, it appeared the protesters are beginning to splinter.
UCT Sasco chairman Siya Ntombela said members would not yet join in the #EndOutsourcing protest with workers as they were waiting on National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) to provide direction.
“There are protests still going on and it is not all students that are still a part of it. Sasco is taking a stance to withdraw until Nehawu gives us direction on whether it will be protected or not.”
Ntombela said Nehawu would be meeting on Tuesday.
“Rhodes Must Fall is continuing because they do not recognise structures. It is a struggle by workers and it cannot be illegal, we must just be there and support them.”
On Monday about 200 Rhodes Must Fall movement members protested, calling for an end to outsourcing of workers at the university and Brian Kamanzi, of the movement, said the university would be closed down for the week.
“There is still a huge question mark about exams.”
He said the movement was approached by some students who wanted to suspend the protests to allow exams to proceed.
“There are many that want to carry on writing, but such a step might hurt the movement. We have two months left and UCT closes earlier than other institutions so we should have enough time.”
CPUT student Mayizuke Nciya said: “We should be careful about compromising our individual goals in an endeavour to achieve a collective goal. It would be wise that the libraries and other resources be open, even if only for one or two hours a day.
“The struggle that we have embarked on is indeed a valid one. Nevertheless, we should remember that we won’t be students for the rest of our lives.”
A frustrated Asakhe Dondolo said the situation was becoming “ridiculous”. “Fees were paid for this year's academic year and these should surely not go to waste.”
Cape Argus