UCT closed as students protest
CAMPUSES were shut down at UCT as students protested against a proposed fee increase for the 2018 academic year and demaned the immediate release of the Fees Commission Report.
There was high police visibility and a Nyala parked at the entrance of upper campus as a mass meeting organised by the student representative council (SRC) took place in the Memorial Hall, also known as Jameson Hall.
The hall was filled to capacity and students and workers were in high spirits as several demands related to fee-free education and other issues were raised.
“In 2015, we were saying fees must fall and fighting against an 8% to 10% increase is a step back for us.
“Students do not have the money to fund the costs of the university.
“It is not our problem if the institution is struggling to pay workers. “We refuse to bear the brunt of the cost of this institution,” said SRC president Seipati Tshabalala.
UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said the university’s Campus Protection Services was monitoring the situation.
As students left the meeting, they closed all libraries and classes were disrupted. Evacuation alarms were set off, and buildings were evacuated.
Later on, the protesters moved to the Bremner administration building where Tshabalala read the list of demands to Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price, who also addressed the group.
“We are demanding 0% fee increment at the University of Cape Town to be pronounced by an emergency Council sitting. An emergency Institutional Commission of Inquiry into all deaths of students over the past two to five years that relate to suicide. Substantial Financial Report on expenditure on paramilitary services on the campus over the past two years. Giving you until 4pm tomorrow (today) until then we will decide the fate of your institution. ”
The student leaders said they stand in solidarity with students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the University of Free State and are calling for a demilitarisation of both campuses.
Price said that the university had already complied with or supported most of the demands, such as the call for the Fees Commission report to be released.
He said the university expected the report to be released in September but it seems the reshuffle of the minister of higher education had delayed the release of the report.
Moholola said by the end of the day protesters dispersed and all class activities and tests continued. UCT libraries and the Jammie Shuttle Service were also operational.
A draft framework that will address the residence and housing intake for 2018 for students who do not get residence offers, particularly for first-year students and those who have been denied residency for next year.