Students met late into the night on Wednesday 21 October to debate Rhodes University’s response to a memorandum outlining their demands. After a circular went out to staff and students last night announcing the resumption of academic activity, a group meeting at the intersection of Somerset and Prince Alfred streets resolved to continue the protest, as well as the campus shut-down.
Students met late into the night on Wednesday 21 October to debate Rhodes University’s response to a memorandum outlining their demands. After a circular went out to staff and students last night announcing the resumption of academic activity, a group meeting at the intersection of Somerset and Prince Alfred streets resolved to continue the protest, as well as the campus shut-down.
The protesters handed a memorandum of demands to University management following a mass march of about 1 000 staff and students around the Grahamstown CBD yesterday morning.
Rhodes students at the beginning of this week joined the national #FeesMustFall campaign by tertiary institutions across South Africa against proposed fee increases for next year. In their memorandum, they demanded a decrease in fees.
“We have indicated that we are not happy with the fees increase because it is too expensive and therefore the university has to find a way of decreasing it. The international levy is also expensive and we demand that it must fall. There must be no interest charged to students fees. No students must be financially excluded in this institution,” said a student addressing protesters on Wednesday.
The students made it clear that no students should be victimised by management after this protest. The University management was asked to come and take the memorandum straight after the protest.
Social media posts from student media organisation Activate tracked the tenor of last night’s discussions, with the last post being around 11.30pm.
“Despite what the University may say, protesters are insistent that there is no academics tomorrow,” ActivateOnline tweeted around 11.30pm, and “Barricade is restarting now.”
Speakers last night vowed to prevent anyone on foot or in vehicles – even service vehicles supplying food – from entering the campus, according to ActivateOnline.
In an emailed circular at 7pm last night, the University management noted that the end of the academic year was near and said “it is important that we resume the academic project without delay”.
The statement, issued by media relations officer Catherine Deiner, said, “Accordingly the academic programme of the university will resume tomorrow morning, Thursday 22 October 2015…”
Regarding the indication by some staff and students that they would continue the protest, the University said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of those who may wish to continue with their peaceful protest. However, we must also acknowledge the right of those who wish to see their academic project resumed.”
On Monday 19 October Rhodes students started off the protest by burning tyres and blocking all entrances to the campus.
University Vice Chancellors met with Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande in Cape Town on Tuesday, where Nzimande agreed on a 6% ceiling for fee increases for 2016.
Students rejected the proposal.
While Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene on Wednesday delivered his medium term budget police statement, students stormed Parliament. They were supported by EFF members in Parliament, who were kicked out after they disrupted Nene’s speech by chanting the slogan, “Fees must fall”.
Following police action at Parliament, students have sought an interdict application against them.
Earlier this week, Student Representative Council SRC secretary general Lindokuhle Zungu said the government had to intervene to solve the situation at the campus.
“We are obviously fighting for the right cause here," Zungu told Grocott's Mail. "If our demands are not met we will see what steps to take.
"We have informed the management about our concern and we will wait from them now.
"We understand the university has financial obligations and that an income to sustain this is required; however, we hold that it should not be the burden of the students,” said Zungu.
He said the SRC has been constantly arguing for the university to review its fees structure and particularly its initial payment.
- Additional reporting by Sue Maclennan
