Scramble to avoid massive Fort Hare protest

OUTGOING University of Fort Hare vice-chancellor Mvuyo Tom led a delegation to the university’s Alice campus yesterday to attempt to avert a massive protest by students.

The protest is planned for today to voice concern over a lack of adequate security on campus.

Students are demanding that all locks to their rooms be changed as a matter of urgency.

The list of demands submitted to the university management include:

● Intensification of security in residences;

● Security staff be deployed to each residence on a 24/7 basis; and

● The immediate removal of the current security company, MCC.

Late yesterday afternoon, SRC representatives and university management were locked in a meeting to address the concerns raised.

While the university agreed to change locks, it would not terminate the contract with MCC.

Acting institutional advancement director at UFH, Lizo Phithi, said the contract with MCC would stand until such a time as the institution had a plan on how to effectively handle the issue of insourcing and outsourcing.

University management said it would look at a plan to strengthen the security arrangement with MCC.

“Residences where there have been high levels of burglary will be prioritised,” said Phithi.

SRC secretary Ricardo Smith said they met with the management of the institution on Monday. However, they failed to reach an agreement because the VC was not present.

“Today [Tuesday] we decided to stage a stay-away with intentions of going on a fully-fledged strike tomorrow [Wednesday] to force the management to take our security seriously.”

Tom was part of yesterday’s meeting. The SRC said today’s planned protest action would go ahead as scheduled.

MCC declined to comment when approached by the Daily Dispatch. —