A temporary truce was reached between demonstrating students at CJC Alex campus and management following the students demands which resulted in the closure of the college for the entire day on 27 January.
The truce is pending a consultative meeting between the two parties and their partner stakeholder, which is scheduled for Wednesday 28 January. In the meeting, the college will respond to the students’ demands. Meanwhile, the students said there will be no classes until the matter is resolved, hopefully at the consultative meeting. If not, demonstrations will continue until all matters are resolved.
Rioting students at the Alex campus of the Central Johannesburg College have added an allegation of financial embezzlement to the list of grievances submitted to the college management.
The allegation is against a teacher who resigned a while ago and was in the Hair Care and Cosmetology department.
Susan Banda, a Student Representative Council member said the teacher made them pay amounts ranging from R600 to R1 000 into a private account with the college’s logo. This despite student’s fees being paid for by a government bursary scheme.
Banda said they were surprised when the finance department claimed it did not know about the account. “The college should have ensured their systems were not breached and must recover the money from the teacher, and also take appropriate steps against her,” she said.
They urged management to include the matter on the list of their grievances which included the lack of course accreditation, issuing of bogus certificates, the alleged incompetence of the college’s management, and the lack of books and equipment in the department.
Banda also alleged that the head of the department was a liability and out of touch with the challenges presented by the students. “She comes to campus once a week for a few hours resulting in departmental staff doing as they please in the absence of a reputable head.”
College principal Wally Botes assured the students that an investigation would be conducted regarding the allegations and appropriate steps would be taken if found to be true. “This will be in addition to other matters in the demands,” he said.
Banda said the students would barricade the gates of the college until the consultative meeting with management is held on 28 January as agreed, and a satisfactory response provided. The students said they had received the support of students in other departments, the ANC youth league, Economic Freedom Fighters and sympathetic parents.
Khoerano Kekana of the youth league was concerned that students who had received bogus certificates would not be able to get employment or start their own ventures. “They deserve a special graduation or upgrading of their certificates to give them value,” said Kekana.
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