Fighting for their future

While scores of students shut down four of the University of KwaZulu-Natal campuses, some felt the protest was a waste of time.

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Durban - While scores of students shut down four of the University of KwaZulu-Natal campuses, some were against it, saying the protest was a waste of time.

On Wednesday the management took a decision to suspend all classes at Westville, Edgewood, Howard College and Pietermaritzburg campuses for the students’ safety

On Thursday, the management of the university closed the students’ residences, saying they were using them as “launch pads” for the destruction of property and threatening the lives of staff and other students.

But due to numerous requests from students to remain in the residences, a decision was taken for them to remain open to allow students to attend to academic matters. But no meetings are to be held in them, and students are required to sign in and out at the security gates and must produce their student cards.

The residences will be monitored and those found breaking the rules will be subject to disciplinary measures.

Spokesman for the university, Lesiba Seshoka, said the damage to property was still being assessed.

Aspiring microbiologist, Sicelo Thabethe, a third-year student from Pongola in northern KwaZulu-Natal, said he supported the protest.

“We are striking because the university wants to scrap the Registration Appeals Committee (RAC). This means I will not be able to study next year, as I cannot register because I will owe it money.”

Thabethe enrolled in 2010 and has been studying through the aid of RAC.

“I want to go back home a qualified microbiologist,” said Thabethe, whose parents are both unemployed.

The RAC supports destitute students who may not be able to register at the beginning of the academic year because of outstanding fees from a previous year.

The hopes of a bright future for geology student Dumisani Gumede, 19, hangs in the balance.

Gumede, from Eshowe, said he was having sleepless nights thinking about his dream, which he said would be shattered if the scrapping went ahead.

“It’s a pity that people think we are striking because we are lazy and don’t want to study. This is not the reality of the matter. We are fighting for our future here.”

Also raising the ire of the students was the alleged proposed writing-off of the foundation and augmented stream (alternative access programmes) also termed bridging courses, for first-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Increasing from 50 percent to a 75 percent pass of modules to be considered for the financial aid was also a bone of contention, the students said.

“What will happen to students who are not intelligent, but are hard-working?” asked Andile Xulu, who is in his first year of a BCom degree.

Xulu, from Empangeni, said his head spun when he thought about the proposed changes. “But how am I going to pass if the university continues to put stringent rules in place, that are aimed at frustrating us?”

Although the students denounced violence, they said this was the only “tactic” to make management “listen” to their grievances.

Thabethe said: “I am against vandalising property. But after a series of meetings between the SRC (Student Representative Council) and the management, which didn’t yield any result, protesting was our last resort,” he said.

Some students are vehemently opposed to the violence. But for fear of being victimised, they have kept their thoughts to themselves.

Honours student, Xolani Phohlo, 24, said: “This protest is a waste of time. I’m here to study, not to protest. We will be writing our exams soon. I want to pass and get out of this place to make way for the other people.”

Third-year environmental science student, Lungelo Buthelezi, 23, said: “This protest came at the wrong time; we are hard at work preparing for our tough exams.

“If the protesting students have issues with the management, they must follow procedures on voicing their dissatisfaction and not burn our university down.

“Where are we going to study if they vandalise the property that we use?”

The protest started at Edgewood campus about two weeks ago, but abated.

Last Sunday, the Westville campus erupted into chaos when hundreds of students burnt down some buildings and two vehicles.

Social science student Lisa Smerdon said: “I believe that everyone has the right to voice their opinion and be heard, but not when others are being unnecessarily affected.”

She said her frustration was exacerbated when university staff declined to assist her with some problems.

An e-mail sent to students by vice-chancellor, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, read: “After having assessed the current situation across all campuses, the university management has taken a decision to further suspend the academic programme for the remainder of this week.

“This decision was favoured as the term is scheduled to end on Friday, September 18, 2015.”

President of the central UKZN SRC, Dithobe Mosana, said they were not going to negotiate with the management in the absence of executive SRC members who were arrested.

KZN police spokesman, Thulani Zwane, confirmed that two suspects had been arrested and had been charged with public violence and malicious damage to property.

“They were remanded in custody until September 23,” he said.

Seshoka said: “Students and parents can rest assured that the university is carrying out all necessary measures to ensure that teaching and learning proceeds smoothly when the next semester resumes on September 28.”

Sunday Tribune