Military veterans accompanied striking Nehawu members from Eastcape Midlands College in Uitenhage, who stormed the Grahamstown campus on Wednesday 11 February.
Military veterans accompanied striking Nehawu members from Eastcape Midlands College in Uitenhage, who stormed the Grahamstown campus on Wednesday 11 February.
The move, which brought student registration to an abrupt end, followed reports that the campus was "smuggling" in students for registration and that some staff had returned to work.
A labour dispute between the College and the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union is still unresolved.
The institution, with campuses in Grahamstown, Uitenhage and Graaff-Reinet, has been brought to its knees by the strike that began on 13 January. A total of 66 workers belonging to Nehawu, across the campuses, have since been fired by the College and 17 shop stewards are facing the axe for taking part in the illegal strike.
The institution was forced to close during its crucial registration period.
Dozens of striking lecturers from six different campus sites in Uitenhage, accompanied by ANC Umkhonto Wesizwe Military veterans, joined Grahamstown campus teachers in their demonstration.
Nehawu has reportedly recruited the veterans to maintain calm and monitor the situation.
The picketers were met by locked campus gates and a strong police presence, along with private security guards.
Registration was initially due to begin on 5 January and end two weeks later with classes starting on 20 January.
It is the second week of February and the extended registration period has again been interrupted.
It is now not clear as to when the College will start classes.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail at the scene on Wednesday, Nehawu's EMC branch co-ordinator Thando Gotyi said the disruption was to ensure the College's management took them seriously.
Gotyi said the situation at the six Uitenhage campuses and one in Graaff Reinet was as volatile as at the Grahamstown campus. He said the College council had said management should meet soon with Nehawu to resolve the dispute.
Gotyi alleged that the college management was "running away" from them.
The demands by the workers include salary increases and making temporary staff permanent.
Gotyi explained: "The EMC is rated first in the Eastern Cape in terms of producing good results and third in the country among the 50 FET colleges.
Yet teachers earn the lowest compared to other institutions.
" Gotyi said an entry level salary at EMC is R12 500 a month, while at other colleges it is R22 000.
They also demand that all temporary staff who more than three months at the College be absorbed.
"According to the collective agreement, workers should be deemed permanent after serving three months," Gotyi said.
The Student Representative Council at EMC has expressed concern about the protracted strike. In an emailed statement to Grocott's Mail dated 28 January, Education and Transformation officer Zikisa Mbanga said the strike will have a negative impact on examinations.
"We feel that this strike is setting our fellow students for failure," Mbanga said.
"In 2013 the College achieved a 73% pass rate and in 2014 it dropped to 66% and it was because of the unrest.
We fear that [it will drop again]," Mbanga said.
Mbanga said the SRC strongly feels that the College management and Nehawu should reach an agreement so classes can proceed.
About Eastcape Midlands College Eastcape Midlands College (EMC) came into being on 31 March 2002 with the merger of Uitenhage Technical College, KwaNobuhle Technical College, Grahamstown Technical College and the satellite campus of Bethelsdorp Technical College in Graaff-Reinet.
It was officially launched in October 2003.EMC is a Public Further Education and Training (FET) institution.
The college offers vocational and occupational programmes. They primarily offer certificates in engineering and business studies.
Qualifications include civil and mechanical engineering, welding skills, administration, accounting, bookkeeping, computer studies and early childhood development.
FET Colleges offer nationally accredited courses according to the new SAQA requirements that fit levels 2-4 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
According to SRC Chairperson at the Grahamstown campus Akhona Buwa, the Grahamstown campus takes 1 200 students annually.
The three Eastcape Midlands College campuses take a combined 10 000 students.
