Wits interdict and SRC matters
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits University obtained a court order prohibiting violence inside its campuses.
Wits university obtained an interim interdict from the South Gauteng High Court on 29 October.
The interdict allows the police to assist the university to stop students and workers from disrupting lectures, tutorials and the like and also, it prevents anyone from prohibiting others from entering or leaving the university or any of its buildings, facilities, residences, halls, classrooms and the like.
The interdict prohibits anyone from causing damage to the property of the university, as well as anyone harassing, intimidating, threatening or assaulting any of the university’s staff, students and members of the public in any manner whatsoever.
Senior communications officer at the university Shirona Patel said, the university respects the rights of people to a peaceful protest, free speech and legitimate forms of protest – provided that it does not infringe on the rights of others who want to learn and work.
“In the interest of the safety and security of the university’s staff and students, and given the unlawful activities like arson, violence, intimidation, damage to property and the disruption of classes, that have taken place on its campuses recently, the university feels that it is obliged to take preventative measures to ensure that these unlawful activities do not recur,” Patel said.
Wits management had sent out emails to students citing that they were in talks with the Student Representative Council which was vehemently denied by both SRC presidents.
The SRC also responded via email to the students which read as follows,”The SRC has been in attempts to consider the various views of the student body at large and would thus like to reiterate and clarify our position. We have noted that the university has released a statement saying that a resolution has been reached together with the SRC. We must however, clarify that there has been no meetings between management and SRC at any point.”
The SRC pointed out that its list of demands still stood and that they would continue to act in the best interest of Wits students.
Patel pointed out that the SRC had been invited into talks with management but had refused, stating that they won’t meet behind closed doors.
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