Political battles at Unisa leave students frustrated

EFF, Sasco clash over registration

Disgruntled prospective students at the University of South Africa (Unisa) in Pretoria have called on two opposing student bodies to sort out their differences to enable the registration process to go without hindrance.

This after chaos erupted at the university’s Sunnyside campus between SA Student Congress (Sasco) and EFF Student Command (EFFSC) who differed over the extension granted by the university on late applications.

Sasco wanted a list of grievances presented to the university management to be answered before late applications were considered.

The grievances included upgrading of campus security and scrapping of minimum registration fees. The EFFSC, on the other hand, encouraged students to register at the university in their numbers.

Sasco members blocked the main entrance to the university with burning tyres, an act that prompted prospective students to scale walls to access the registration venue.

The chaos left students frustrated and others were forced to return home without being registered.

Bongani Mkhaliphi, 23, from Nelspruit, said Sasco and EFF must sort out their issues and not include them in their political battles.

Mkhaliphi slept at a friend’s place when he arrived in Pretoria on Sunday to queue up early yesterday.

“I got here [at campus] at 4am because I was worried about the queue. We were told to form two lines but when we finally got inside the campus all the computers were down.”

“The staff members said they feared for their lives and I don’t know where that leaves us. I’m left with no option but to go back home,” Mkhaliphi said.

Happinness Mabasa, 24, of Pretoria, said all they wanted was to register.

“The two political groups should sort out their issues and leave students out of their battles,” she said.

Unisa spokesman Martin Ramotshela said the university committee would meet and look at both groups’ demands. He said they expected operations to return to normal today.