Students slam campus disruptions
The majority of DUT students are fed up with ongoing protest action which turned violent earlier this week by what they call a "handful" of trouble making students.
WHILE intermittent student protests plagued the first two weeks at the Durban University of Technology, many students are hoping management reign in on the “handful” of protesters so the academic programme can resume without any further disruption.
A second year Food Technology student, told Berea Mail, after Monday’s protest rampage, “It is ridiculous. The first two weeks were a bit of a waste. We arrived for our morning lecture on the first day and within an hour or two of returning we got kicked out of our classes by protesters. Of course after leaving we got the sms stating lectures were cancelled.”
He said protests usually started at ML Sultan campus and worked their way up to Ritson Road and then hit the Steve Biko campus. “This time we come back expecting to start with work after a day or two and once again its the same story when lectures resume, the protest action starts up again. Yesterday (Monday) everything seemed back to normal but in the afternoon a group started again and tried to turn over a security vehicle. Today we have had most of our lectures so hopefully it won’t be disrupted again,” he added.
Another student said the protest action and disruption of lectures was putting pressure on the majority of students. “Everything is going to be cramped. We already started the year later usual and are behind with lectures. Our first tests were set for this week yet we haven’t even started our practicals so its all delayed,” she added forlorn.
Another group of international students also spoke out against the protests. “I am a foreigner and have a study permit with limited time so these disruptions really put more stress and pressure on us. All our tests and assignments are going to come at us one after the other, its frightening,” she said.
A Congolese student said the protests were “destroying us as DUT.” “They are really letting us down, it is now well known that DUT students protest every single year in the first semester. Management must do something because the majority of students want to get on with the academic programme and it is unfair that a handful of troublemakers are stopping us,” he added.
Meanwhile Alan Khan, senior director of corporate affairs at DUT acknowledged Monday’s violent student protests and disruptions at some Durban campuses.
“About 100 individuals rampaged through our campuses and caused disruption and damage; throwing stones, discharging fire hydrants and intimidating others. We don’t know how many of these individuals were DUT students. Despite our best efforts to respond to the SRC’s demands and to have open and honest dialogue with them, it seems the student protesters are intent on spreading chaos, disrupt the academic programme and compromise safety on campus.
“We will identify and suspend the student protestors who became violent. We will further bolster our security efforts going forward and we will work even closer with the SAPS to ensure that they enforce the High Court order that protects DUT from protest action. We will not permit any gatherings without the prior permission of the University.
“We have identified some of the protestors who acted violently. Those who are students will be suspended immediately pending a formal disciplinary hearing. Those who are not our students will be criminally charged,” Khan warned.
Khan appealed for patience as the University enforces stricter controls at the gates and more generally, on campus. He apologised to all affected, intimidated, victimised and traumatised by Monday’s violent student protests.
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