DUT suspend lectures as students protest

THE Durban University of Technology took a decision yesterday, to suspend its academic programme for the rest of the week.

According to Alan Khan, senior director of corporate affairs at the DUT, the decision follows the SRC-led protest action which took place at the ML Sultan campus and the Steve Biko campus in Durban on Monday, 8 February.

Students gathered at the Cane Growers Hall at the ML Sultan campus and marched up to Professor Ahmed Bawa, DUT vice-chancellor and principal’s offices at Steve Biko campus on Monday. After some chanting, toyi-toying and singing, Professor Bawa came out to meet with the students and receive their memorandum of grievances. “On Tuesday, 9 February 2016, Proffessor Bawa, met with the University’s SRC to discuss their concerns and demands. The meeting started at 1.30pm and ended at 6.30pm. While progress was made to find a way forward, a decision was taken late last night to suspend the academic programme on all campuses for the rest of this week,” Khan said.

Khan said the decision was taken in the best interests of the safety and security of our students and staff. This is an academic suspension of lectures on all DUT campuses in Durban and in Pietermaritzburg.

With a number of students who still need to register and many still waiting for their NSFAS confirmation, Khan said a team from NSFAS are at DUT to assist those students with their financial aid applications.

In the meantime, the registration process will continue and the University remains open.

Khan said Professor Bawa will continue to have a dialogue with the SRC to ensure that the University is in a position to resume the academic programme next Monday, 15 February.

DUT apologises for any inconvenience caused.