TUT students protest for accommodation and others for their right to be educated
The police, as a request by TUT eMalahleni management, asked the students to vacate the campus
Students at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) eMalahleni campus were protesting their way to lectures and some were still protesting for student accommodation matters.
WITBANK NEWS previously reported that campus activities resumed on Monday, February 17.
Though a group of students have been protesting to get into campus to study, no student has been to their lectures due to the protest action.
The protest started about three weeks ago and the initial reason to protest was for the variety and diversity of residences and all students should get equal National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) benefits irrespective to where they reside.
Since the group has caused the campus to shut down, the other group is protesting for the campus to open so they can continue with their studies.
On Monday morning, February 24, the group that wanted to study marched to the Witbank Police Station to seek help so that the campus may reopen.
They went back to campus the same morning and broke open the gate and entered into the campus.
On Tuesday morning, February 25, allegedly, students went to the campus as they were under the impression that campus activities will resume.
Both groups gathered inside the campus and continued to protest against each other. Police officials intervened to monitor the protest action.
The police, as a request by TUT eMalahleni management, asked the students to vacate the campus.
Members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) told WITBANK NEWS on Tuesday that the groups were protesting against each other, where one was protesting over TUT not approving a student residence because it alleged to be resolving issues in a court of law and the other group was protesting to continue their studies.
“Some students will point at the management for whatever is happening because they ask the management why they allowed the five residences to market themselves on campus during the registration period. Some went to the unapproved residences without knowing they were not approved. Now, we are waiting for an implementation plan from the university to the students on how they can assist them to move to the approved place,” said the member of the SRC who wished to remain anonymous.
He also said: “We would like to champion the university on bringing back students who were academically excluded. First year and final year students with at least one carried module were brought back to the system.”
TUT’s corporate channels manager, Ms Willa de Ruyter said: “Resolving the continuous student protest action around accommodation and NSFAS issues at the eMalahleni Campus is a priority for the university to ensure students could continue with their academic activities uninterrupted.”
She added: “A meeting was scheduled between a representative of TUT Enterprises Holdings, the eMalahleni Campus Rector and a representative from the campus as well as an Executive Management Committee representative yesterday (Monday, February 24) and feedback provided to students.”
She highlighted that academic activities were suspended for Wednesday, February 26 and updates on the situation from the university will be issued daily.
Watch: TUT student division continues
Video: TUT students force their way in for education
TUT students march to police station for help
TUT eMalahleni Classes’ remains suspended as the strike for “various issues,” continues
TUT corporate channels manager responds to student protest
