Videos: Two universities reopen to student disruption
There were reports of commotion inside the medical campus during the morning
Two Pretoria universities reopened on Wednesday after academic activities were disrupted by student protests.
Classes at the University of Pretoria (UP) resumed, while the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) said it also planned to carry on with lectures.
A UP statement said management was making every effort to ensure students could complete their studies in the remaining weeks of the academic year.
“We recognise that it is imperative for teaching and learning to continue, and for final assessments and examinations to be concluded this year.”
UP said arrangements were being made to make on-campus lectures and study material available online, would be made available online or by other means, soon to be detailed.
TUT said in a statement it was committed to providing high quality education to all its students.
Continuous talks between the senate, organised labour and the elected student leaders were vital.
This would seek to ensure students were enabled to comply with curriculum requirements, management said.
“These include that students complete the minimum number of academic hours as well as practicals and tests.”
AfriForum Youth’s national project coordinator Morné Mostert said only a few faculties had resumed lectures at the UP’s Hatfield campus.
Mostert said the medical campus was one of those operating on Wednesday.
“There were reports of commotion inside the medical campus during the morning,” said Mostert.
He said a mass student meeting had been scheduled for 12:00 on campus.
UP’s campus coordinator Jacu Grobler confirmed reports of disruption at the medical campus, saying police were keeping watch.
Admitting the situation around the Hatfield campus remained volatile, the university said it was making every effort in ensure studies would be completed.
“Strict access control will apply and only students whose faculties have made academic programme-specific arrangements will be allowed on campus.”
Examinations were scheduled to start on 14 November and continue to 3 December, except in special cases to be advised by the faculties.
“In the interest of the safety of students and staff, campus security will work closely with police to ensure that adequate security measures will be in place to enable the continuation of the academic year,” UP said.
“We will not hesitate to act against anyone causing further disruptions. We are doing everything in our control to ensure that we successfully complete the academic year.”
UP vice-chancellor Cheryl de la Rey met staff on Monday to discuss the recent protests.
She said the purpose of the meeting was to generate a unified response on behalf of the university.
Police police spokesperson Sally de Beer said two students were arrested at the Hatfield campus on Tuesday.
They appeared on charges of public violence charges in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
No new arrests had been made by noon on Wed Wednesday, she said.
TUT said to enable students to complete the academic year, the programme had been extended from 9 to 15 December.
A special executive meeting of senate on Monday decided tests would begin on 15 October at all faculties.
They would be rescheduled for students who missed tests.
Test repeats necessitated by illness would be scheduled per faculty.
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