Cape Town - Small groups of students at the University of Cape Town disrupted traffic on the M3 and classes at the university on Monday.
Students blocked entrances to the university’s three campuses, to protest increased fees and the university management’s taking action on behalf of students.
A similar protest was also planned for Stellenbosch University on Monday morning.
At UCT a student on a motorcycle was pushed over at the middle campus entrance on Woolsack Drive and parents were forced to drop off their children on the side of the M3 as cars trying to enter the Upper Campus were prevented from entering the university’s grounds.
According to a pamphlet distributed by the protesters, believed to be of the South African Students Congress, the blockades were part of a Sasco drive for free education. Repeated attempts to reach Sasco organisers failed on Monday morning.
However, according to the pamphlet, the protesters were demanding an “emergency” meeting with the university’s management to work out what it should cost working class students to attend UCT.
Students trying to walk into Upper Campus arguing with protesters blockading the road #UCT#FeesMustFall @IOL #iol pic.twitter.com/EbyQKM5J3E
— MojoIOL (@mojoIOL) October 19, 2015
“The management of UCT has repeatedly used a pretend concern for the fees of black working class students to justify its refusal to pay its workers a living wage,” the pamphlet continued.
“Yet, at the same time, the poorest UCT student (sic) has to pay out of their own pocket to attend university,” it said.
“Raising fees raises the debt that funded students will have to pay back. UCT has repeatedly refused to respond to student, worker and union demands for an end to outsourcing.
“Let’s end this practice of UCT management doing things on our behalf,” it said.
In a letter to the media on Monday in anticipation of the demonstration which he believed would only be held on Tuesday, acting vice chancellor Professor Charles Petersen pointed out that the government had only increased its support for the university with its block grant by 3% a year, while the university’s average costs, largely due to inflation including salary increases, have increased by 7% to 8%.
“The recent student demonstrations nationwide are of concern to us all,” he said.
“Most times the protest actions are within the parameters of the law as protestors exercise their constitutional right to freedom of expression, whilst respecting the rights of others.
“At some campuses however, we have seen unacceptable and illegal behaviour on the part of individuals or groups that have interfered with university business. Such actions infringe on the rights of others who wish to continue with their work.
“While the University of Cape Town will always protect anyone’s right to lawful protest, we also value and protect the rights of those who do not participate or who hold different views.”
He outlined details of the university’s fees structure and what the university was doing to help poor students.
“We are committed to ensuring that our fees are never an obstacle to poorer students. We have achieved this through allocating about 12% (R125 million) of all the fees we raise to topping up the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allocation.
He added that if the fees were lower, there would be significantly less available for financial aid.
Cape Argus
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