Cape Town - The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has shut down all activity on its campuses, calling on students to vacate residences immediately, and has postponed exams until next year.
In a message to staff and students, vice-chancellor Dr Prins Nevhutalu said the university management had taken these decisions during a meeting on Monday morning to protect students and university property.
“For the past few weeks CPUT has been held hostage by a group of students who are determined to make the university ungovernable. The academic activities have been disrupted and the destruction of university property has continued unabated.”
He asked those who could not vacate their residences immediately to do so by Wednesday.
Exams for non-exit level courses would be suspended until January 11 while students who are writing exit level subjects would be notified of their revised exam dates. “We regret the trauma that has been suffered by students and staff during this period.”
Students reacted with disappointment and anger on social media, with many questioning how they were supposed to vacate within 48 hours when they had no money or place to go to.
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) would also remain closed until further notice.
On Monday morning the Reslife building at UWC was set alight while security booths outside the Kovacs building were also set on fire.
“Three protesters were arrested in this regard. The suspects were caught at the Reslife building.
“The university condemns these attacks and reiterates its call for protesters to desist from committing acts of violence, vandalism, intimidation and arson,” said UWC spokesman Luthando Tyhalibongo.
Despite the chaos, more than 400 final-year students wrote their exams without any interruption at an off-campus location.
All final year and postgraduate students have been given the opportunity to either write in November, December or January.
“First and second year students’ continuous assessment mark will be used as their final mark. In the case where first and second year students are not happy with their final mark, they will be afforded the opportunity of writing an exam in January.”
Damage to property at UWC has been at estimated at more than R10 million, and the university council is set to meet in the next few days to deliberate on the demands made by protesting students.
Tyhalibongo said UWC remained committed to the agreement it signed with #FeesWillFall and the Student Representative Council.
“Among the items that UWC has committed to are: The implementation of a zero percent non-increase; registration fees for indigent students were waived weeks ago; and students who are academically performing, but have outstanding fees, will be allowed to register in 2016.
“The university is open to finding interim measures in support of the outsourced staff members, which includes a commitment to subsidise cleaning workers with R1 000. This was communicated to the #FeesWillFall movement two weeks ago.”
He said the #FeesWillFall movement has demanded that the university should “use its limited reserves” to write-off historic debt worth more than R270m.
“A process is under way to look at the feasibility of insourcing and writing-off historic debt. A council meeting will take place in the next week to deliberate and decide on the demands.”
Meanwhile, Universities South Africa (USA) has condemned the “on-going wanton acts of violence and destruction of property” at UWC, CPUT and other institutions.
“As the leadership of USA, we condemn these senseless acts that are intent on not only destroying our facilities but also denying the right of access to the majority of our students and staff members.
“We respect the rights of those who wish to protest lawfully, but we cannot under any circumstances condone acts of violence and criminality.”
Cape Argus
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