DUT SRC no show at meeting
The University remains fully operational and that the security system at the University had been beefed up to protect staff and students and to prevent any further interruptions to the academic programme.
DISGRUNTLED students disrupted classes and tests at the Durban University of Technology Steve Biko campus on Monday after which the SRC President handed over a memorandum of demands to vice chancellor and principal professor, Thandwa Mthembu.
A meeting was subsequently organised between DUT management and the student council for midday on Monday but the SRC failed to attend.
“Amid the SRC’s failure to attend the meeting, DUT management met to discuss the issues raised in the memorandum. Some of the issues raised included, the incompetence of the Sbux system, late registration and accommodation for NSFAS funded students,” explained DUT’s Alan Khan.
sBux is a payment system‚ developed by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme [Nfsas]‚ which is used to pay allowances to students who qualify for a bursary. This allows students to use vouchers on their cellphones for the payment of food‚ accommodation‚ books and travel.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: DUT students shut down campus
According to Khan, later on Monday, the SRC requested to meet with DUT management at 9am on Tuesday but again failed to arrive for the meeting. The SRC executive members also allegedly switched their phones off.
“It is important to mention that the SRC has to date snubbed four meetings within two days that had been agreed upon with management,” said Khan.
Khan confirmed that the University remains fully operational and that the security system at the University had been beefed up to protect staff and students and to prevent any further interruptions to the academic programme.
Meanwhile, Khanyisani Khambule, the EFF Student Command chairperson at DUT said they expectyed management to attend to the grievances raised in the memorandum as soon as possible.
“We want the school to take full responsibility for failing to assist the 5000 students who are affected. Some students cannot even register for their semester course while others cannot access residences,” he said.
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