SRC gives UFH deadline on strike

University of Fort Hare students have blamed management for failing to resolve the Nehawu wage strike, which has halted the academic programme for 45 days.

In a memorandum signed by 5 000 students and released yesterday by the Student Representative Council (SRC), the student body demanded the strike be resolved and studies resume by Monday.

The students spoke out against the “persistent failure” by management to resolve the matter.

“The strike has directly compromised our academics as we failed to complete our first semester examinations.

“Our patience is not endless. We urge you not to test it.

“[Management should] resolve the strike within the next three days [from Wednesday].

“As of Monday next week, all the university operations should be back to normal,” the memorandum said.

In the memorandum, the SRC accused the university management of disrespecting the rights of students and workers who were raising genuine issues.

UFH came to a standstill on June 12 when 500 Nehawu members went on strike.

Deputy vice-chancellor Professor JP Hendricks accepted the memorandum on behalf of the office of vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.

He assured students that university management was aware of the students’ “deep-seated frustrations” and was “working very closely with the institutional SRC, its respective campus subsidiaries, [and] other institutional stakeholders to bring an end” to the situation.