MBOMBELA – Activities at the local campus of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) resumed on Monday.
Last week Lowvelder reported that, after two weeks of violent student strikes at Gauteng campuses, the university had announced that recess would be brought forward to commence on September 20. Students protested over a lack of study funds.
It was reported that 18 cars were set alight after a bus had been burned the week before. The student representative council (SRC) was also disbanded and all campuses were closed down for safety.
Since the recess started, the university announced that the council had approved a proposal from the university to make
R46 million in student loans available. These would assist 2 500 people for the remainder of the academic year.
According to TUT, this amount was in addition to a R30 million contribution it had made this year to cover returning students’ financial shortfall in funds from the national student financial aid scheme.
This progress had led to reopening the campuses this week. On Thursday an urgent Northern Gauteng High Court application brought by the SRC against TUT for the closure of residences, was also struck from the roll.
“This ruling allows students to return to the residences provided they sign an undertaking that they will not be involved in any criminal activities, disrupt university activities or damage property. This ruling is now applicable to all residences,” the university said in a statement.
