DUT SRC president suspended

THE Durban University of Technology has suspended its SRC president, Sphesihle Mthembu, and two other students after Monday’s rampage.

Three more students were expected to be handed suspension notices to take the tally of suspended students to six.

A group of about 100 students had allegedly yanked students out of classes and the library, chasing them off the Steve Biko campus and setting off fire extinguishers on Monday afternoon.

They were protesting over the shortage of student accommodation; for outsourced workers to be hired directly by the university; and over transformation issues.

University spokesman, Alan Khan, said three students had been served with notices of suspension, while university authorities were looking for another three who would be served with suspension notices, once found.

Notices

Among those handed notices was Mthembu, who received his on Monday evening.

DUT SRC general secretary, Zama Mncube, confirmed the president had received his suspension notice and said it did not stipulate how long he was suspended for.

“We will engage with the university on the matter, but what is important... is that they are students and they are here to get an education,” she said.

She said another SRC member responsible for the accommodation and organising portfolio and an ordinary student had also been suspended.

She said there had been no protests at the university yesterday.

Khan said of the six, four were from the Durban campuses while two were from the Pietermaritzburg campuses.

“Two are SRC members,” he said.

He confirmed one of those facing suspension was Mthembu.

Khan said the campus was peaceful yesterday after a decision was taken to bolster security after Monday’s protest.

The SRC president was not available for comment.