International students at Rhodes University may be forced to return home before they complete their examinations and some lecture venues are closed because of safety fears following actions by #FeesMustFall protesters on Wednesday 5 October.
International students at Rhodes University may be forced to return home before they complete their examinations and some lecture venues are closed because of safety fears following actions by #FeesMustFall protesters on Wednesday 5 October.
A statement issued by the university’s Communications and Advancement Division on Thursday 6 October said they are concerned that if the academic programme is further disrupted, some international students will be forced to return home before completing all their examinations.
In the statement the university said classes were proceeding; however, some venues occupied by protesters on Wednesday couldn’t be used because they were contaminated with toxic material from the release of fire extinguishers by the protesters.
The statement further explained that in seeking to maintain the academic programme, the university is very concerned about international students, many of whom have visas which expire on 30 November.
According to the university, this will have a devastating effects for the international students given the cost of studying outside their home countries and the difficulties involved in securing study visas in the first place.
“Some international students have complained of what they have experienced as xenophobic attacks directed at them.
“We wish to reiterate our university’s position that there is no place for xenophobia or any other form of bigotry, prejudice, intolerance, chauvinistic or discriminatory behaviour at Rhodes.
“All students, including international students and staff, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. “The presence of international students and staff creates an intellectually, socially and culturally rich environment at Rhodes and we value the diversity, different perspectives and different lived experiences brought by all our students and staff into our academic project,” read the university statement.
The university also apologised to students and staff whose classes cannot proceed because of the need to deal with a health hazard.
The university said the dust is corrosive and toxic and presents a danger to the workers who must remove it.
“We also apologise to our cleaning staff who have to deal with the outcome of irresponsible behaviour.”
In the early hours of Wednesday 5 October, protesters invaded residences on the upper campus while students were sleeping.
“Fire alarms were set off as the residences were invaded,” the university said in an earlier statement.
“Tyres and two rain water storage tanks were also set alight in the immediate vicinity.
“Tampering with, vandalising, damaging or misusing any equipment provided in the interests of health and safety, such as fire alarms and extinguishers, is an offence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 181, 1993) and cannot be tolerated because of the danger it presents to others. Action will be taken against any person contravening this act,” read the statement.
Day-long negotiations between Rhodes University management and students on Wednesday at the university proved fruitless, according to a source who did not want to be named.
“The demand number 12 is what the students really want the management to respond to before they can proceed forward with the engagement,” said the source. “So facilitators are still trying to set up another dialogue.
“University management did provide an answer to all students’ demands but students seemed not to be happy with the answers, including that of demand 12,” said the source. Student Representative Council (SRC) President Mlondolozi Gift Sandi could not be reached on his phone for comment as it went to voicemail.
SRC’s Media Councillor Tuletu Nelani said she had no idea of what was currently happening on the campus.
“You can ask the president or the incoming president but I’m not involved in things that are going on the ground,” she said.
“Me I’m going to my
classes, attending lectures, I’m trying to catch up and so everything that you really would like to know you have to ask other people,” said Nelani.
NOW READ ON PAGE 11 ON PRINT EDITION:
• Our side of the story − The Uckar 11
• #FeesMustFall and free education in context − Chris Mbekela
