More than 33 000 students from the biggest tertiary institution in Cape Town have again had their education disrupted after the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) was shut down late yesterday by violent students.
The shutdown affects all four campuses, said acting vice-chancellor Chris Nhlapo in a statement. He said the students had refused to submit a list of demands when requested to do so yesterday.
“I wish to reiterate that my door is always open to meet with students, hence our offer to meet with them. Regrettably, this offer was also refused,” he said.
Earlier, students marched on the Roeland Street campus as well as the administration building on the Bellville campus, wanting to meet CPUT executive management.
Protesting students also attempted to haul their colleagues out of classes to join them.
CPUT is the latest of several campuses hit by the nationwide fight by students against financial exclusions and calls for the decolonisation of the curriculum.
Yesterday four suspended CPUT student leaders, Ayakha Magxothwa, Neo Mongale, Sivuyise Nolusu and Lukhanyo Vanqa, were to hold a press briefing about the recent situation on the campus ahead of a final verdict related to their suspensions.
While the ensuing chaos prevented the briefing from happening, Mongale told the Cape Times: “(University management) say to us that CPUT is a home away from home, but when you are at home you do not get pinpointed with a gun.
“CPUT is a movie of some sort – they tell us this and they say something else to the media.
"It is simple: the students wanted a meeting with the vice-chancellor and nobody else,” he added.
While Nhlapo in his statement said he had an open-door policy with the students, Mongale charged that when they tried to meet the CPUT vice-chancellor, they were told he was in a meeting.