UMP reopens its doors following week’s closure
Many students are unhappy about the academic time lost despite the gains.
MBOMBELA – Most universities across the country remain closed, but classes have resumed at the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) yesterday after a seven-day suspension.
The #FeesMustFall campaign has brought the tertiary education sector to a standstill. On Monday the University of Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University remained closed while classes are set to resume at the University of Limpopo and Tshwane University of Technology tomorrow.
Protests erupted at UMP’s Mbombela campus on September 26, with students burning tyres at the entrance. They then handed over a memorandum of grievances to UMP management.
The demonstrations continued the following week and became violent after the students felt the institution’s leadership had not adequately responded to their grievances. After they had thrown stones and bottles at police, the university closed its doors on October 3.
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UMP has since agreed not to increase fees next year, but students also have a number of other grievances.
The student representative council (SRC) president, Mr Thabiso Shongwe from the South African Students Congress, told Lowvelder that the SRC was of the opinion that despite differences between the university and the students, academics needed to be prioritised.
“We thought that disruptions were unnecessary. Although we are not fully satisfied with the response we have received, we believe that we need to forge a way forward to continue with classes,” he said.
Shongwe said the student body was 90 per cent satisfied with the response from the university’s leadership. “We have planned a mass gathering on Monday to brief students on the response received from management.”
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Another issue was that of the library not being open 24 hours. “The university has agreed to extend the operating hours and we are satisfied with their cooperation,” Shongwe said.
However, despite the gains, many students are unhappy about the academic time lost. “We now have to work very hard to make up for the time lost during the demonstrations,” said
Ms Thandiwe Sono. “I am hoping that we will be able to do that. Otherwise we are going to suffer come exams,” she said.
According to Shongwe, both parties have resolved to continue with classes following their engagement.
“We both agreed that students will submit their National Student Financial Aid Scheme application forms to the finance office on campus. They will be responsible for sending them to the central office in Cape Town,” he said.
