The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) will open on Tuesday with a “full security contingent throughout our campuses”.
This will involve‚ vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib said on Monday night‚ “security and police services deployed on all campuses and in all buildings”.
His warning that “no mass meetings will be allowed in Solomon Mahlangu House” seemed to have been ignored‚ with the All Residence Council tweeting a video clip from that building showing students dancing during an early morning vigil on Tuesday.
ARC 2016/2017?@WITS–ARC posted: “Holding the Ground #NoRetreatNoSurrender #FeesMustFall”.
The official Wits student representative council account @WitsSRC
also retweeted @WITS–ARC’s advice to students should they be tear-gassed or pepper-sprayed.
Habib had noted concerns “about learning in a ‘securitised’ environment with police guarding lecture halls”‚ and said “we scaled down our security for today (Monday) and requested the police to move to the campus perimeter”.
“However‚ given the harassment of some staff today‚ I am left with no choice but to open tomorrow with a full security contingent throughout our campuses‚” he added.
This came after “a meeting of about 500 students on campus today‚ the protesting students broke into splinter groups and forced some staff to leave offices and laboratories”.
“Wits’ security was able to contain the large group‚ but not the smaller groups that moved through buildings.”
This‚ vowed Habib‚ would no be tolerated as a failure to resume academic activities on Tuesday would leave Wits with “have no choice but to close the university‚ which will compromise the 2016 academic programme and the lives of all 37 000 students”.
“Anyone caught contravening any university rule or court interdict‚ or infringing on the rights of others‚ will immediately be held accountable for their actions‚ and may face criminal charges.
“I have personally received reassurances from the police‚ from private security and Campus Control that they are on board to secure the campus and protect the lives of students and staff who want to learn and work.” – TMG Digital
Protesting Wits students will face ‘full security on all campuses’
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) will open on Tuesday with a “full security contingent throughout our campuses”.
This will involve‚ vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib said on Monday night‚ “security and police services deployed on all campuses and in all buildings”.
His warning that “no mass meetings will be allowed in Solomon Mahlangu House” seemed to have been ignored‚ with the All Residence Council tweeting a video clip from that building showing students dancing during an early morning vigil on Tuesday.
ARC 2016/2017?@WITS–ARC posted: “Holding the Ground #NoRetreatNoSurrender #FeesMustFall”.
The official Wits student representative council account @WitsSRC
also retweeted @WITS–ARC’s advice to students should they be tear-gassed or pepper-sprayed.
Habib had noted concerns “about learning in a ‘securitised’ environment with police guarding lecture halls”‚ and said “we scaled down our security for today (Monday) and requested the police to move to the campus perimeter”.
“However‚ given the harassment of some staff today‚ I am left with no choice but to open tomorrow with a full security contingent throughout our campuses‚” he added.
This came after “a meeting of about 500 students on campus today‚ the protesting students broke into splinter groups and forced some staff to leave offices and laboratories”.
“Wits’ security was able to contain the large group‚ but not the smaller groups that moved through buildings.”
This‚ vowed Habib‚ would no be tolerated as a failure to resume academic activities on Tuesday would leave Wits with “have no choice but to close the university‚ which will compromise the 2016 academic programme and the lives of all 37 000 students”.
“Anyone caught contravening any university rule or court interdict‚ or infringing on the rights of others‚ will immediately be held accountable for their actions‚ and may face criminal charges.
“I have personally received reassurances from the police‚ from private security and Campus Control that they are on board to secure the campus and protect the lives of students and staff who want to learn and work.” – TMG Digital
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos