BRAAMFONTEIN – After a week of stand-offs between Wits University management and the Student Representative Council (SRC), the two have finally found common ground.
According to a statement issued by the SRC, they were forced to take their anger to the streets following numerous breakdowns in negotiations with management. The statement read, “After a long week of active demonstrations and acts of protest for students, we have finally reached an agreement that holds the interests of all students at heart.”
The following concessions were agreed to by the university and the SRC:
- The opening of the Hardship Fund to all students that meet the readmission criteria
- The addition of 60 more beds to the Hardship Fund’s accommodation allocation with more beds to be negotiated with South Point
- House committees to communicate the specifics of their grievances and be assisted by the dean of students Jerome September.
The SRC acknowledged that the demands they made at the beginning of the protest have not all been met but they vowed to continue engaging with the university to achieve these. “These victories are not gifts, students sacrificed and fought hard for them. This is a victory that should be cherished as we fought in the rain, ran through mud, were brutalised by private security and had our frustrations ignored by management.” The SRC stated that their demands and grievances needed to be taken up with government and other role players in higher education.
With the safety of students and the academic programme in mind, the SRC has officially called an end to the hunger strike and protest on campus.
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