Wits University set to reopen its doors after its general assembly was cancelled
BRAAMFONTEIN – Despite postponing its general assembly that was hoped to settle the protest, Wits University will attempt to reopen once more.
After sitting through several meetings the Wits council has agreed to open on Monday 10 October.
The university sent out a statement warning protesting students that should they not comply with the rules, they could face disciplinary action by the university.
The statement has reiterated that it is for the benefit of all students – undergraduate and postgraduate, local and international, full-time and part-time and all staff – academic, professional, administrative and international that they reopen their doors. The university promised that it would hold a general assembly once all constituencies agree on a unified stance around the issue.
In a media briefing, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adam Habib, has said that the most important factor that they are taking into consideration is to get the academic programme back on track before it was too late. He also indicated that police would be brought back on Wits main campus going into the week.
Students have been protesting since the Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande announced that universities across the country could raise fees up to no more than eight per cent.
New rules have been set going into the reopening of the university on 10 October:
- Students will be allowed to protest, but only in specific, identified areas. Large groups of people engaged in protest action will not be allowed to gather outside the designated areas.
- Any person intimidating students to leave a classroom or building, or disrupting any university activity, may be suspended.
- Anyone carrying rocks, stones, weapons or any other items that can be used to destroy property or inflict harm, will immediately be disarmed, and may be suspended. Any person using items to deliberately conceal their identity, may be suspended.
- Rigorous control of access to the university, including comprehensive and sporadic checks of all vehicles, including buses, will be implemented. All staff and students will be required to carry their access cards with them, as is the norm.
- All persons arrested by the police may immediately be suspended.
- All suspensions will immediately be processed for finalisation through disciplinary hearings.
