Lovedale acts against student protesters

SOME of the 13 student leaders who led a two month protest at the Lovedale TVET college’s Alice campus have been expelled, suspended and given final warnings.

The students were found guilty by the college’s disciplinary committee last month.

The Daily Dispatch has seen the expulsion and suspension letters handed to the students by college principal Luvuyo Ngubelanga.

However, it could not be established how many had been expelled, suspended or slapped with a written warning by the time of writing yesterday as the institution could not provide the details.

Earlier this year, students demanded practical studies at the college, maintenance of computer labs, more computers with internet access, a NSFAS bursary allocation and allowances, among other things.

In the letters, Ngubelanga wrote: “You have the right to appeal. If you wish to exercise that right, you should do so in writing to the college principal within five working days.”

Ngubelanga’s decision to either suspend, expel or issue final warnings to students was informed by:

“The campus investigation report [and] the evidence produced by the witnesses.”

Sasco leader Sabelo Madlala, who was was expelled from the college, said: “I never sat in a disciplinary hearing meeting and yet the letter of expulsion that I was issued with, states that these are the outcomes of a college disciplinary hearing.

“I would expect to be at least invited to the meeting. I am being excluded for standing up for students rights,” he said.

Final-year financial accounting student Athenkosi Manyela, suspended for 18 months, said he was accused of slaughtering cows and goats on campus and not being disciplined in a disciplinary hearing.

“These accusations come to me as a surprise because I was never allowed to talk in the first disciplinary hearing I was called for.

“I am from Keiskammahoek and have not gone home since the letters were issued. I am still waiting for a response from campus management for my appeal.”

Art and design student Zolani Melo was given a final warning. “My punishment was to never again participate in a student politics meeting.

“I was seen as too vocal. The management knows that if people like myself are no longer in the front lines, they will easily get away with anything,” Melo said.

By the time of writing yesterday, vice principal Kenneth Fassi had not responded to e-mailed questions. —