A protest ensued after students arrived at the Central Johannesburg Campus in Alexandra on 16 January at 6am and were told that there was no registration and therefore no classes.
This after a decision was made to move courses N4, N5 and N6 from Alexandra to the Ellis Park campus. Upon hearing there was no registration taking place, the students decided to protest and set tyres alight, threw rocks and blocked off 13th Avenue and Vincent Tshabalala Road.
Read: Turmoil as CJC college students protest in Alex
Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Kay Makhubele said, “These riots occurred early morning 16 January, no arrests were made and no one was harmed. Currently, we await on the campus management to receive an update about whether the school will commence or not.”
Moses ‘Oupa’ Sako, the PR councillor for the EFF weighed in, “There was a meeting last week about these courses being suspended and there was an agreement to have a final meeting on 13 January to withhold this decision, however, nobody pitched to the meeting and all the relevant management had switched their phones off. Everybody in this country has a right to education and we worry that these pupils will get into theft and drugs if they don’t attend school.”
The road was blocked yesterday afternoon with a few tyres still burning and rocks strewn outside the campus premises.
Student Representative Council Chairperson, Masithi Makama said, “We don’t know when this will be rectified, it is painful and we don’t understand why. This college is for the community and management know that Alexandra residents don’t have a lot of money. We can’t afford to pay the taxi to attend Ellis Park campus as it is a big difference of R1 500 a month compared to R300 a month and we can’t stay at the Ellis Park accommodation.”
Read: UPDATE: Streets burn to CJC students protest in Alex
On 12 January there was a meeting with DJ April, principal and CEO of the campus, with regards to the move to Ellis Park campus, however, he did not issue a comment. Makama added, “Mr Twala, acting director for the campus, signed a document on 12 January to not move the courses to Ellis Park. At the time he agreed and was supposed to come in on Friday but he didn’t arrive and he switched his phone off. We spoke to his colleagues… and they had no idea about this meeting.”
When the North Eastern Tribune arrived at the scene, DJ April, Mr Taymang, Mr Bogapa and Mr Matsila had finally arrived and a meeting was taking place to discuss what needs to be done.
Updates to follow.
