Sne Masuku

Sne Masuku

The Students Representative Council at the Durban University of Technology yesterday resolved to call off its protest and allow the institution to re-open on Monday.

The action was called off after management made a commitment to deliver on most of the students' demands.

The agreement excludes the demand to scrap the proposed doubling of the registration fee next year from R2000 to R4000.

Management spokesman, Nomonde Mbadi said students would first have to make a down payment of R2000 towards tuition fees if they wanted acceptance at DUT. Thereafter they would have to pay in instalments.

Mbadi said since the merger of ML Sultan and Natal Technikon, the university had not increased the fees so much .

The university was closed after students went on the rampage over a number of demands.

When attempts to restore order at the campus failed, management decided to close the institution.

SRC president, Thami Shezi said though no agreement had been reached on the issue of fees, the two parties resolved many of the thorny issues, which had sparked the protest.

Shezi said management pledged to start building a new students' village.

They also agreed to buy new buses and to organise a 30-minute shuttle service between campuses.