Johannesburg -
The Tshwane University of Technology on Saturday said it was taking urgent steps to ensure the academic programme resumes at its Pretoria and Ga-Rankuwa campuses after student protests.
“The Tshwane University of Technology is aware that the majority of our students are concerned about the disruption to studies caused by the protest action at our campuses in Ga-Rankuwa and Pretoria,” spokeswoman Willa de Ruyter said in a statement.
“The university is taking urgent steps to ensure that the academic programme resumes as quickly as possible and continues uninterrupted to enable our students to successfully complete the academic year.”
She said the university was committed to continuing negotiations with the student leaders.
On Thursday, the student representative council (SRC) said the protest would continue until the students decided otherwise.
SRC president Mboniseni Dladla said the students would not be threatened with evictions from the institution's residences.
“No lies spread by the university spokesperson should be taken serious(ly). We've consulted our lawyers and can assure all TUT students that threats of evictions will not see the light of day this time around,” he said at the time.
The institution earlier was forced to close its gates again on Thursday after students went on the rampage.
At the time, De Ruyter said this was despite university management accepting a memorandum of grievances from the students and agreeing to enter into talks with the SRC.
Classes were suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday because of student protests over a lack of funds in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
TUT staff returned to work on Wednesday, but were told on Thursday to stay away due to the protest. - Sapa