Annual campus queues nightmare
GENERALLY, at the start of the first and second university semesters, extremely long queues of students and prospective students can be seen at the Durban campus of the University of South Africa.
Persons come to register/ re-register or make enquiries about registration and other allied issues (funding, obtaining advice, counselling etc). Most of these people are young black females who have to withstand the harsh sun, wind, rain and other adverse weather conditions for many hours; that is akin to slow torture.
Surely the authorities can make alternative arrangements so that this situation no longer exists. I believe online registration can help in certain instances, but here too, I have been told by students over the years, problems exist. Suitable interventions ought to be implemented forthwith so that, for a start, the waiting period is greatly reduced.
Some of the students come from distant areas at great cost and a few in desperation have camped outside the university from the night before to get a head start. This situation is abysmal and inhumane.
These people are seeking a better life by trying to educate themselves. They have needs such as hunger, thirst and answering the call of nature, besides personal hygiene matters. So this sad state of affairs aggravates the situation.
Consequently, an earnest appeal is made to the relevant authorities to please show compassion and use some savvy in order to ensure that our young brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren are not abused. The standing in the sun etc for hours is indeed a form of abuse and a crying shame.
I believe the above-mentioned pathetic state of affairs exists at other campuses countrywide (Unisa and others) and needs to be addressed immediately.
The only people who benefit from this ridiculous situation are the enterprising vendors who ply their lucrative trade in these areas.
Hopefully this plea will not fall on deaf ears, good sense will prevail and positive action will be taken swiftly to alleviate the plight of the relevant persons with positive initiatives.
SIMON T DEHAL Verulam