There was a heavy presence of police and private security personnel as the University of the Witwatersrand prepared to restart of its academic programme on Monday.
Fees Must Fall student leader Mcebo Dlamini had on Sunday been adamant that the university will remain shut until demands are met‚ and the Student Representative Council had called on students to gather at the Piazza on the East Campus at 7am.
Police and security guards were seen patrolling the campus‚ while small groups of students were reported to the roaming around the institution.
The students can expect stepped-up security measures‚ as Wits management had vowed that “rigorous control of access to the university‚ including comprehensive and sporadic checks of all vehicles‚ including buses‚ will be implemented”.
One student said the measures had created confusion. Mosunki ore Ahlile ?@bona–baratile tweeted: “#AskAdam why he said classes are resuming on Monday morning‚ but mandated private security to tell us we can’t enter. It’s 6:29 am at Wits”.
The varsity said “students will be allowed to protest‚ but only in specific‚ identified areas”.
“Large groups of people engaged in protest action will not be allowed to gather outside the designated areas‚” it said.
The university also vowed tough action against those who overstepped: “All persons arrested by the police may immediately be suspended. All suspensions will immediately be processed for finalisation through disciplinary hearings.”
“We are completely opposed to violent protest. As such‚ anyone carrying rocks‚ stones‚ weapons or any other items that can be used to destroy property or inflict harm‚ will immediately be disarmed‚ and may be suspended. Any person using items to deliberately conceal their identity‚ may be suspended‚” it added.
“Tomorrow Wits will remain shut. We extended a hand to the university on Friday and we said to them we are willing to discuss and negotiate‚” said Dlamini.
He was speaking outside the Great Hall on Sunday afternoon‚ while students were meeting to discuss strategy and tactics after the university management announced on Saturday that classes would resume on Monday.
“Since Friday till now‚ the university has not come back to us. So we are left with no alternative but to say we no longer recognise Adam Habib (the university’s vice chancellor).”
Habib had on Friday announced that a General Assembly‚ at which a declaration of a resolution of the fees protest crisis had been expected to be announced‚ was postponed after student leaders changed their demands. – TMG Digital
Arrested students face immediate suspension as Wits reopens under heavy cop presence
There was a heavy presence of police and private security personnel as the University of the Witwatersrand prepared to restart of its academic programme on Monday.
Fees Must Fall student leader Mcebo Dlamini had on Sunday been adamant that the university will remain shut until demands are met‚ and the Student Representative Council had called on students to gather at the Piazza on the East Campus at 7am.
Police and security guards were seen patrolling the campus‚ while small groups of students were reported to the roaming around the institution.
The students can expect stepped-up security measures‚ as Wits management had vowed that “rigorous control of access to the university‚ including comprehensive and sporadic checks of all vehicles‚ including buses‚ will be implemented”.
One student said the measures had created confusion. Mosunki ore Ahlile ?@bona–baratile tweeted: “#AskAdam why he said classes are resuming on Monday morning‚ but mandated private security to tell us we can’t enter. It’s 6:29 am at Wits”.
The varsity said “students will be allowed to protest‚ but only in specific‚ identified areas”.
“Large groups of people engaged in protest action will not be allowed to gather outside the designated areas‚” it said.
The university also vowed tough action against those who overstepped: “All persons arrested by the police may immediately be suspended. All suspensions will immediately be processed for finalisation through disciplinary hearings.”
“We are completely opposed to violent protest. As such‚ anyone carrying rocks‚ stones‚ weapons or any other items that can be used to destroy property or inflict harm‚ will immediately be disarmed‚ and may be suspended. Any person using items to deliberately conceal their identity‚ may be suspended‚” it added.
“Tomorrow Wits will remain shut. We extended a hand to the university on Friday and we said to them we are willing to discuss and negotiate‚” said Dlamini.
He was speaking outside the Great Hall on Sunday afternoon‚ while students were meeting to discuss strategy and tactics after the university management announced on Saturday that classes would resume on Monday.
“Since Friday till now‚ the university has not come back to us. So we are left with no alternative but to say we no longer recognise Adam Habib (the university’s vice chancellor).”
Habib had on Friday announced that a General Assembly‚ at which a declaration of a resolution of the fees protest crisis had been expected to be announced‚ was postponed after student leaders changed their demands. – TMG Digital
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