The students from the University of Mpumalanga are on an early Easter recess.
This follows after the university requested the students to leave by 12:00 on Thursday, due to unrest on the campus.
On Thursday morning the students were on strike, demanding that the university pay off-campus service providers for accommodation.
The service providers were not paid for January (half of the month), February and March.
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According to the service providers, the lack of payment affects them a lot.
“As service providers, our responsibility is to provide accommodation and transport. For us to provide both services, we add a third party who is responsible for transport. When the university does not pay us, it means we cannot pay transport owners.
They then cannot afford to pay for petrol/diesel and they will not be able to transport the students to school. Our challenges include things such as that we cannot be able to pay for electricity, security guards, water and the free wifi,” he explained.
The statement to the students reads; “In view of the ongoing and escalating student protest action on the Mbombela Campus, and the need to protect life and property, MANCO has resolved to bring forward the Easter recess. The Easter recess which was due to start March 23 will now commence today, March 15.”
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According to Jacob Tau, from provincial SASCO, the students went home, but we still want the university to pay the service providers.
“This affects the students that live off-campus and the other students decided to stand in solidarity with them. Yesterday after the protest there was a meeting held. However the management did not reach a consensus with the students,” he said.
Wandile Shabangu, SRC chairperson and SRC treasurer says that some of the leaders are at the university helping the learners that need assistance.
“Most learners left on Thursday because they feared what might happen if they stay. We were not around, although upon our return we assured them that nothing will happen. We have about 78 learners that we are assisting so that they will be able to travel home,” said Shabangu.
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