UNAUTHORISED social media posts led to the gathering of a large number of prospective students outside Steve Biko campus yesterday.
This in turn resulted in a protest by the Durban University of Technology students today (7 April).
DUT SRC president Zabelo Ntuli, said university management failed them to prepare for the 2021 academic year.
“The students are not yet registered at this time of the year and there is a huge shortage of residence for students. The chaotic incident happened yesterday (Tuesday) after the university invited students, facing problems with registering online, to come in the intuition and a number of large students came and filled up the Steve Biko Sports Centre,” said Ntuli.
A student, Nomvelo Ndlovu, who joined the group of students said, “I don’t actually care about Covid-19 at this stage. All I want is to register and study, that’s what is important to me.”
ALSO READ: DUT harm-reduction programme recognised for bold response to pandemic
University spokesperson Alan Khan said, “The university has been exploring strategies to deal with the challenge of the slow pace of registration of first time entering (FTEN) students, for various reasons including their challenges with our online registrations system. The number of returning students who have registered has been largely met and does not appear to be a problem at this stage,” said Khan.
In last week’s email from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching & Learning to Faculties, several strategies were shared about how the University would quicken the pace. One of the strategies was about enlisting professionalised call centre services, in addition to their own faculty-based initiatives.
Such a service would help to reach out to all students with firm offers, students on waitlists and other qualifying students that could have approached them since registration started. Some call the latter group ‘walk-ins.’ As a result of this, the University had also decided to extend the registration period for FTEN applicants to 9 April 2021.
ALSO READ: Student protests flare up at DUT
“It does appear that there were a number of unauthorised social media posts inviting all applicants to come to the campuses on 6 April 2021. Many potential applicants arrived at our gates, expecting to be registered. These persons were not invited by the university to register, nor given any indication that they were to arrive at the university.
“All along, the university has been using a strict Covid-19 compliant system where those struggling with our online registration would report their experiences via the telephone, and, where necessary, be invited and granted permits. As a result, all our registration venues, including the Sports Centre, has been orderly and Covid-19 compliant, “ said Khan.
Those who have been scammed must report such incidents by clicking on this link: https://www.whistleblowing.co.za/make-a-report-steps/ or call 0800204134.
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za)
Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple
