Lectures cancelled at UKZN

AMIDST the ‘Fees Must Fall’ student protests, UKZN has suspended lectures for today and tomorrow and normal lectures are expected to resume on Monday, 26 October.

The many students leaving Howard College campus after receiving the news did not seem fazed by the latest protest.

A fourth-year law student, who starts exams in two weeks, said she fully supported the protests. “For most of us students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, it is too much. Many students are being excluded and cannot finish their studies and gain an education, which is their right.”

Another student who wished to remain anonymous told Berea Mail that finding out lectures were cancelled two weeks before the exams was a bit shocking, but she still supported the protest. “It probably doesn’t affect rich students, but I’m from a middle-income home and my parents are really struggling to pay fees, especially with more than one child in university. So it actually affects our parents, who want to give us the best.

“We need to make it possible for more children to study. There are also many students who work to pay their fees and its not like their wages cover these increases,” she added.

Meanwhile, Lesiba Seshoka, spokesperson for UKZN, late yesterday said, “A number of students engaged in protest action on the Westville and Howard College campuses before being addressed by the university’s vice-chancellor, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld. Select students attempted to disrupt lectures but were swiftly dispersed by the university’s Risk Management Services (RMS) and Public Order Policing.”

Seshoka said the university respects the rights of students to protest in a peaceful manner that lies within the realm of the law. Additional security measures have been put in place to monitor the situation on all university campuses.

“University management is in discussions with the SRC regarding the fee increase for 2016. Once a decision is made, the outcome will be announced to the university community,” she added.