LUCT director wanted out

MBABANE – Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) students yesterday delivered a petition, demanding the removal of the institution’s Director, Tfobile Gumede.

The petition was read by Thami Malinga, who is the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) LUCT branch Chairperson. He stated that it had come to their attention that the director was making learning unconducive for them, as students.

Malinga said they were demanding the end to victimisation of students and lectures by the management. He alleged that instead of attending to issues raised by the students and lecturers, the management victimised them. On another note, Malinga said they were demanding the lifting of suspension of their three lecturers namely; Xolile Sacolo-Mnisi, Bongani Matse and Yussuf Shabangu. “We came to demand the unconditional lifting of all suspensions against our lecturers with immediate effect,” said Malinga.

Internship

He further stated that some of the students were about to go for their internship programmes, hence they needed their lecturers’ full support.

Malinga stated that as students, they were also demanding the reinstatement of their colleagues who were also suspended. He stated that they understood that the institution had no case against the suspended students.

Malinga said their third demand was to be allowed to elect their Students Representative Council (SRC) without the interference of the management. “Let the students elect their own leaders to run the office (SRC). We demand the SRC elections to be held with immediate effect,” he said.

He noted that the institution had been running for almost two years now without a substantive SRC.

Malinga said this affected the students and made it difficult for them to raise issues affecting them in the institution.

Wondering

He said students were wondering why the institutions’ Registrar and Finance Departments were reportedly sending invoices to the Ministry of Labour and Security in five-month period instead of three. The invoices in question are those sent in order for the said ministry to facilitate disbursement of the students allowances.

He also stated that another concern from the students was regarding their E1 000 book allowances as they reportedly did not receive it whereas book allowances were now paid into their accounts directly. He said the students were getting E3 000 for book allowances whereas it was supposed to be E4 000.

Malinga said they were giving the management 24 hours to respond to the petition by the students.

The petition was received by LUCT Students Service Department Officer Mandisa Msane, who promised to hand it over to the relevant management officials.