CPUT won’t back down on fees
But provision to be made for students ‘who can prove they can’t pay’
THE CAPE Peninsula University of Technology has defended its position on fee increases.
Thamsanqa Nkwanyane, spokesman for CPUT, said the university would be sympathetic to only those students who could prove they were unable to pay the new fees.
This comes after the student strike spread to CPUT’S Bellville campus yesterday. Students chanting “Izwe lethu, iafrika” (Our land, Africa) blocked the entrance to the IT centre, where registrations were taking place. They hurled stones and sticks at the security guards, hitting campus buildings and damaging cars.
Nkwanyane said they would not back down on the fee increase and upfront payment.
“These are important for the costs of running the university at an optimal level,” said Nkwanyane.
He warned students not to participate in the strike.
“If, and when, we identify any student involved in this carnage we will charge them and allow the law to take its full course,” said Nkwanyane.
Busisiwe Mesatywa, a National Education Health and Allied Workers Union member and cleaner at CPUT’S Bellville campus, said she was “definitely willing” to support the students.
“We’re parents. As a cleaner I don’t even earn the amount of the registration fee. We can’t afford such fees. As they stand, it means that I will never be able to bring my children here,” said Mesatywa.
Buntu Gwija, chairman of Nehawu at CPUT, said the union had filed an urgent application to join the strike.
Gwija said it was difficult to predict the duration of Nehawu’s participation in the strike.
“If we have to strike indefinitely for what we want, let it be,” said Gwija.
“We haven’t even started. We will target our lunch hours to start picketing for now, and build momentum while waiting for our certificate.” The certificate is legal permission to go ahead with strike action.
Gwija said the university needed to open negotiations.
“Parents have to dig deep, the working class cannot afford to dig deep,” said Gwija.
The SA Students’ Congress (Sasco), Pan Africanist Students Movement of Azania, and CPUT’S Student Representative Council (SRC) said protests would continue indefinitely.
Sasco’s provincial chairman Sello Nkhatho, said the students would not tolerate the use of rubber bullets and pepper spray.
Sasco’s provincial secretary, Monwabisi Luthuli, accused the university of not engaging with the students.
“We want to state categorically that as from today we are not negotiating with (university) management, we will be negotiating only with the (university) council, only they can solve our issues,” said Luthuli.
But Nkwanyane rubbished Luthuli’s accusation.
“The acting vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Anthony Stark, called a meeting with SRC representatives and they were unwilling to enter into discussions. They only wanted to talk about a waiver, and not assistance.”