Wits SRC release their list of demands to the public as their protest continues

BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits’ Student Representative Council have shared their list of demands with the public.

Wits University has been rocked by a student protest right at the beginning of their academic year. The protest is led by the university’s Student Representative Council (SRC) and has been going on since 4 February 2019. During this protest, they have held hunger strikes, occupied administration buildings and staged a sleep-in in Solomon Mahlangu House.

The SRC has come out and shared their list of demands that led them to their activities since then.

Wits SRC demands:

• All students who have been granted space at the university must be able to register
• Returning students must be assisted in their accommodation by Wits
• The opening of the residential buildings identified by South Point in the meeting between South Point, Wits management and the Wits SRC for the housing of students at the university’s expense
• The re-opening of Witwaters, Essellen and Parktown Village for accommodation
• No upfront fees should be applicable to students with a household income of less than R600 000. This would be for both residential and academic progress
• All students must be able to register and move into Wits residences if granted a space despite their historical debt
• No closing date for Hardship Fund. The SRC commits to fundraising –the university should follow suit.
• If private accommodation refuses to scrap upfront payment, then the university must revoke its accreditation
• International students from across the continent and diaspora should be catered to in terms of late registration and accommodation. Their needs and circumstances should never be overlooked.

The SRC has also demanded that their student representation should be increased. This can be achieved by giving the SRC four additional seats at the university’s financial committee. The All Residential Committee (ARC) should also be given a seat in the financial committee as well according to the SRC. Lastly, the SRC also demanded a further 15 voting seats in the senate, five of which will be reserved for the ARC.

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