TUT students demand to return to residences
“We want the university to allow students back on campus residences, which now meet all the Covid-19 safety measures.”
A group of protesting students tore through a fence this week to submit a list of their grievances to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Pretoria West’s main campus.
Among their demands, the students wanted to return to their residences because they say they cannot study at home.
They also demanded that all final year and post-graduate students resume classes, not just the 33% announced by the higher education minister Blade Nzimande.
“We want the university to allow students back on campus and to TUTEH (Tshwane University of Technology Enterprise Holdings) residences that have been prepared and meet all the safety measures and precautions,” said student leader Lenient Motaung.
“We are pleading with management to accommodate students, especially disadvantaged students who are having difficulties studying at home.”
Nduduzo Kunene, who is part of the students’ leadership, said, “our biggest issue is that the university has never communicated with us as students”.
“We raised many complaints on how students will be welcomed back, including the time frames but we never got a response,” Kunene added.
Another issue was that TUT students did not want virtual graduation, according to student leader Kevin Phehla.
READ MORE: Easy accommodation for TUT students
“Virtual graduation is starting on Tuesday, but this does not sit well with the students,” said Phehla.
“Students spent money buying clothes preparing for a graduation that they are now denied to attend because the university decided on their own that students must attend graduation online.”
“Right now students are compromised by the fact that they cannot study at home, they are now forced to pay outside residences in Kasi while they have their own fully paid residences.”
Phehla said everyone was aware of Covid-19 regulations.
“We all know the Covid-19 protocols, but when we passed the security gate there was no temperature measurer which shows that TUT is failing to apply it at the entrance,” said Phehla.
Students who were working at the university claimed they were allegedly not paid their salaries and their contracts were now being terminated.
“How do you terminate the contract of a student at a tough time like this, when they have to support their families?
“The university must pay students for April up till now,” said Phehla.
Phehla said that they are pleading for better connection and network coverage.
Other grievances included the need for laptops and allowances for students living off-campus.
The university did not respond for comment at the time of going to print.
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