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Pretoria — The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is bracing itself or more possible protest action from students. A protest was believed to be planned for today morning. TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said they were aware of the planned protest action. “We’re aware of the protest, but the university obtained a court interdict. The interdict prevents the respondents [structures and individuals] and their supporters from, among others, taking part in or instigating disruptive or riotous behaviour that infringes on the rights of any staff member, student or visitor to TUT’s premises,” said De Ruyter.
She added that the police would be on standby.
According to a source from the institution, who asked not to be named, the reason for the protest was that some students had allegedly been excluded from exams. “Students feel that their demands were not met by the 0 percent pronouncement. Some students are unable to write exams as they owe [fees] . . . They want all historical debts to be cleared,” said the source.
Universities nationally have been rocked by protests as students fought against fee increases. The fight culminated in chaotic scenes at the Union Buildings, where thousands of students converged to protest against the proposed hikes for 2016.
Meanwhile, students waiting in vain for Deputy Higher Education Minister Mduduzi Manana in front of Parliament on Monday, vowed to return again next Monday — giving them a week to “mobilise the entire Western Cape”.
And this time, they also want the ministers of labour and finance to come and address them, student leader Mxolisi Mlandu told a representative of the education department who came to address them after a two-hour-long wait.
There was also a less than subtle threat to bar exams at the University of Cape Town. “So don’t cause a national shutdown,” Mlandu told Nomonde Rasmeni, a director in the office of the minister of education.
The group earlier grudgingly agreed that Rasmeni address them. “We don’t know who you are. We are glad that finally you respect our people. So I don’t know who’s who, but there’s no deputy minister.”
Rasmeni explained they were late because they were busy working on a response. She said [Higher Education Minister Blade] Nzimande and Manana “respect you, they wanted to be here, but are at meetings dealing with this issue”. — AFP
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