Students at Rhodes University in Grahamstown on Saturday 24 October started a clean-up of the university campus and the academic programme will resume after management acceded to their demands. These included implementing the moratorium on a 2016 fee increase announced by President Jacob Zuma this afternoon.
Students at Rhodes University in Grahamstown on Saturday 24 October started a clean-up of the university campus and the academic programme will resume after management acceded to their demands. These included implementing the moratorium on a 2016 fee increase announced by President Jacob Zuma this afternoon.
The Rhodes student press, Activate and Oppidan, kept members of the public in touch with events on campus through social media, as protesting students awaited the outcome of a 10 000-strong delegation’s representations to Zuma at the Union Buildings on Friday 23 October.
Activate Online posted moving scenes of students alternately crying, and bursting into song, when Zuma finally announced the zero fee increase.
The announcement followed the #FeesMustFall protest action across South African tertiary institutions.
Rhodes students began the protest on Monday, blocking off entrances to the campus with burning barricades. They were supported by management and many academic staff.
For five days, the routine was the erection of barricades at dawn, action during the day, and night meetings.
There was a flashpoint on Tuesday, when Rhodes students joined in solidarity their counterparts at Eastcape Midlands College, who for two weeks had been protesting over unpaid bursary funding. Rhodes Vice Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela intervened, asking police to refrain from heavy handedness, and calling on the College head to address students.
On Wednesday, Rhodes students joined students across the country in their National Day of Action and what became known as #NationalShutdown.
Students ignored a document from the University management announcing that academic activities would recommence on Thursday and groups of protesters went through buildings, insisting that staff and students leave.
Friday morning found a small group at on the stairs of the main administration building. They were burning a tractor tyre and thick smoke rose from behind the Drostdy Arch.
“We’ve sacrificed too much [academically]already to stop now,” one of them said. “This thing is carrying on – and we hope the University will remain in solidarity with us.”
A circular issued to students on Friday night said, “Rhodes University’s academic programme will resume with immediate effect after an amicable agreement has been reached.
“We are in solidarity with the national shutdown and as such students will continue with a visible presence and will maintain protest activity outside the Drama Department.
“All barricades will be removed tonight, with the exception of the barricade outside the Drama Department,
which will be removed by [10pm] on Saturday 24 October 2015.”
This final barricade is set to be removed after a vigil in solidarity with those injured or arrested during the national protest.
Rhodes Management agreed to the students’ five demands. The following is from the circular issued to students by media relations officer Catherine Deiner:
1 No student shall be victimised and singled out for protest action
Accepted: Management upholds the right to protest and the right of freedom of movement and association. We believe that rights end when they impinge on the rights of others. As we recognise this protest is
of national importance, no one will be victimised and singled out for participating in protest action
2 0% increase in fees – this is a move towards free education|
Accepted.
3 International levy for African students must decrease and be standardised and the University must commit itself to advancing the cause of no international levies for African students
Accepted.
4 No interest charged on student accounts
Accepted: No interest will be charged on accounts with outstanding balances where prior arrangements have been made.
5 Dr Mabizela to sign a written commitment to his words of not financially excluding students.
Accepted: The Vice-Chancellor agrees to facilitate the process of registration by standing surety for any student who is performing well academically (i.e., passing all courses) and unable to raise funds to register for the next level of academic study. On completion of the academic programme and graduation, it will be the responsibility of the student to ensure the fees are paid.
The following was agreed regarding exams and other academic activities during the November examination period:
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Swot Week will commence and all academic facilities will be open from Saturday 24 October 2015
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Examinations will commence as per the published timetable with the exception of some practical examinations which will be rescheduled by departments in consultation with classes
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In acknowledgement that the disruption has impacted on study time, supplementary examinations will be available for all courses on application
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No supplementary examination fee will be levied
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Results of the supplementary examination will be awarded in percentages and not with Pass or Fail symbols
Deiner said the events of the past week had marked a turning point in the higher education sector both nationally and at Rhodes University.
“In exercising their personal agency, student protesters have demonstrated immense vision, courage and tenacity in advancing the accessibility of tertiary education for all,” she said. “We would like to acknowledge the role that staff and students played in moving towards the goal of making quality higher education achievable for all.”
By 11am on Saturday 24 October Grocott's Mail saw a group of students cleaning up debris in front of the Drostdy Arch. Barricades at the Lucas Avenue and South Street entrances to the campus had bee put to one side; however, the one outside the Drama Department on the corner of Somerset Street and Prince Alfred Street remained.
* Updated Saturday 24 October at 2pm
