Security guards allegedly assault ‘independent students’ for protesting

Group stage sit-in at the University of Johannesburg’s Kingsway Campus over outsourcing

THE University of Johannesburg (UJ) has accused a small group of “independent students” of undermining the decisions of council and the student representative council (SRC) by continuing with protests over the outsourcing of workers.

Kingsway Campus was hit by protests this week. On Monday, students and workers occupied vice-chancellor Ihron Rensburg’s office and demanded that he immediately end outsourcing.

The group was assaulted by private security guards during their sit-in.

Student Anele Madonsela said that on Monday, workers mobilised and abandoned their posts. They are expected to continue with the protest until the end of the week.

“At night, we decided we want to see our father (Rensburg) and to wait for him at Madibeng (building),” he said.

“The security guards let us in and then Fidelity guards came and started assaulting us. Two of them were slapping me and one of them even threw me down the stairs. All the women were beaten up.”

However, Rensburg said that management had the responsibility to ensure that campuses were safe and that they would do everything to maintain that.

“In particular, at this time, we expect everyone to contribute to creating a climate for the successful preparations and staging of examinations. We will, therefore, undertake all that is necessary to establish conditions conducive for effective learning, teaching and research,” he said.

He explained that UJ was the first institution to announce the intention to stop outsourcing workers during the no-fee protests.

“Since this announcement we have established a task team to develop a plan to enable us to insource service staff at the very earliest opportunity, and work has begun.

“I believe that this statement responds to any outstanding queries as to the university’s intentions and plan.

“Any further concerns should be addressed with the university’s management through due process.”

He said management would continue negotiations with the newly appointed SRC, adding that the institution would have to cut costs next year to ensure that it can afford the zero percent fee increase.

“The zero percent fee increase means that our cost cuts will be in the order of R60m. Cost-cutting measures are being considered for travel, functions and entertainment, capital expenditure for items below R15 000 and performance bonuses.

“Every effort will be made to ensure that key operations, academic and otherwise, are sustained at the levels that we have come to expect.”

Cleaner Jabu Sithole, who has been working at the institution for five years, said the protest was continuing because people wanted management’s commitment to ending outsourcing.

“The money I earn isn’t even enough for me to pay for a module. I have a child who is in Grade 10 and I would like him to study here one day. How am I going to afford that?” she said.

Sithole earns R2 900 a month and said workers were demanding to be directly employed by UJ so they can receive benefits such as medical aid and pension funds.