Cape Town - Cape Peninsula University of Technology staff were told to stay at home on Monday in case violent student protests erupt again.
Vice-chancellor Prins Nevhutalu sent out an message to all staff yesterday, saying they would be “advised of any new developments”.
This follows violence protests on Friday when some students vandalised the main campus administration building in Bellville. They also set alight a security building on campus.
Students are demanding their fees and debt be written off.
CPUT said it had last week cancelled fees and debt totalling R111 million of at least 5 000 students last week.
Nevhutalu told staff in a letter not come to work tomorrow. “The executive management met to reassess the current situation on campus after some overnight destruction and vandalism of university property. It was decided as a precautionary measure and in the interest of the safety and security of all to request staff not report for duty on Monday.
“Staff members who are able to perform some of their tasks remotely are encouraged to do so. Management will meet from time to time and when there is any change in the situation staff will advised.”
The National Tertiary Education Union branch at CPUT raised concerns for its members’ safety at the campus after Friday’s protests. Its members include support services staff and academics.
The union’s general secretary, Grant Abbott, said staff were “traumatised”. After the violence on Friday staff had to be evacuated quickly.
“We told the vice-chancellor there is a genuine safety concern for staff,” said Abbott.
He said the staff and students planned to hold a number of “peaceful demonstrations throughout the week” when they were back at campus.
“The message would be that violence is unnecessary. You can get the same message across without violence,” said Abbott. “We also want to show solidarity with the majority of students who want to continue with exams.”
Abbott said unions supported students who were lobbying for a reduction of fees. “We support the call that higher education needs to be more affordable.
“We have called on government to set up a task team to look at the entire funding model for universities.
“Government gives some money to universities but that has decreased year on year.”
Naledi Maponopono, Western Cape secretary of the South African Students Congress, said they did not support student violence on any campus. “We understand the frustration... If campuses are being burnt and people are assaulted, we condemn such behaviour.
“We are trying to have a voice in the system, because, there is a big problem. We are achieving successes.”
Maponopono could not confirm if students would continue protesting.
A number of CPUT students have expressed frustration at the cancellation of exams .
Part-time student Shanaaz Fowkes said she had to apply for leave from work to write the exam but was now in limbo. “I hope these hooligans realise what inconvenience they have caused. They must be banned, jailed and not allowed back into any college or university.”
Another student, Kyle Wilson, said he wanted students to stop violent protests “as it’s affecting our academic programme”.
On Saturday students wrote exams at the University of Johannesburg after a vigil outside the university, which has been the site of sustained protests over the last fortnight, was marred by clashes with police late on Friday night.
Weekend Argus