Cape Town – UCT has instituted disciplinary action against eight students arrested this week while two other students will also face internal charges for allegedly using their student cards to allow protesters unauthorised access to a building.
At a press conference, vice-chancellor Dr Max Price said the two students arrested on Tuesday had allegedly repeatedly re-established barricades and were also accused of intimidation.One of these two, he said, was also arrested for allegedly being in contravention of a court order.
In addition there had been some students who were said to have committed offences such as using their student cards to allow unauthorised people into buildings.
Six students had been arrested on Monday after a lecture was disrupted.
Most operations at the university continued on Tuesday although some disruptions were reported.
“We are reacting to the interferences with teaching and operations in a manner that avoids, at all costs, actions that will provoke violence.
“Fortunately, to the credit of the private security, the police and the protesters, there have been only isolated incidents of violence, although there have been some instances of intimidation,” he said in an announcement to the campus community.
At Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), students indicated on Tuesday that they would continue to shut down the institution after a failed attempt to get an interdict against the university and the police.
Liaison Officer of Fees Must Fall, Lukhanyo Vangqa said the university shutdown would continue until all their demands have been met. The students are demanding “free decolonised education, the return of their expelled and suspended cadres and the end to outsourcing”.
A number of students from the various CPUT campuses around the Western Cape met at Cape Town station and and claimed they were manhandled by police.
After a meeting at the Cape Town campus, a small group of student activists went to the Western Cape High Court to try and get an interdict against the vice-chancellor and police officers, but were unsuccessful.
The university announced that classes would be suspended on Wednesday.
“The university remains open for all other operational activities and all staff are expected to report for duty as usual,” said university spokeswoman, Lauren Kansley.
Protest action at the University of the Western Cape also continued on Tuesday.
“While the protest has generally been peaceful, there have been some disruptions. University management remains committed to engage in a dialogue with students to deliberate on their grievances. Management has sent an open invitation to student leadership, including representatives of the protesting students to a multi-stakeholder engagement,” the university’s executive management said in an announcement to the campus community.
“In the meantime the academic programme continues as usual. All operations on campus are continuing. We will assess the situation and update the campus community about any new developments as soon as it is necessary. We urge staff and students to remain focused in preparation for the forthcoming examinations.”
Facebook Comments