Unisa graduations resume, after forced halt in ceremonies
“University graduations are very important and sacred ceremonies. They represent the pinnacle of hard work that students and academics have put in over the years. As a university we take pride in this sacred tradition that seeks to honour, recognise and reward hard work, academic success and excellence.”
The University of South Africa (Unisa) may once again successfully hold graduation ceremonies normally.
Principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula said the institution was delighted to announce that graduation ceremonies resumed normally on Tuesday in Pretoria.
LenkaBula said the graduations would be held at the university’s regional hubs in Mbombela, Polokwane, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, East London, and Durban until June 23, 2022.
“The university is currently in direct contact with all the graduates to advise them of their respective graduation dates and times.”
She said the university was proud to announce that the university chancellor former president Thabo Mbeki would also be available to confer qualifications on graduates on Wednesday and Thursday.
“University graduations are very important and sacred ceremonies. They represent the pinnacle of hard work that students and academics have put in over the years. As a university we take pride in this sacred tradition that seeks to honour, recognise and reward hard work, academic success and excellence,” said LenkaBula.
Unisa VC @LenkaBula apologising for the discontinuation of graduations due to protest actions during the past two weeks. #2022UnisaGraduation pic.twitter.com/UOSzyo6hwE
— Unisa (@unisa) March 29, 2022
Unisa has been unable to facilitate graduation ceremonies due to a salary dispute with the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu).
While the impasse between management and the union has been resolved, the ongoing strike would only end once workers were paid.
“This unfortunate and regrettable event should not have happened. On behalf of the management, senate and the entire university community, I wish to express my unconditional and profound apology to the graduates, parents, families, including our students in Africa and the rest of the world who were adversely affected by the disruption.”
LenkaBula said that in terms of the bill of rights, every South African “has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected”.
She said as Unisa was a public institution “we have the moral and legal obligation to honour and uphold the constitution of the Republic, as well as the rights of all our students”.
LenkaBula said the university had the obligation to ensure that academic activities, including the sanctity of graduations, took place under a conducive and stable environment.
“We cannot afford to steal such a moment of pride for our people.
“The new dates for the continuation of the autumn graduation ceremonies will be communicated directly with the graduates.”
She said Unisa did not condone lawlessness or the disruption of graduation ceremonies and other equally important academic activities for whatever reason.
“I wish to assure our students and the public that the university leadership is hard at work to resolve the concerns of labour as speedily as possible.”
Meanwhile, according to Nehawu, the management of Unisa had elected to dishonour a signed agreement for the payment of salary adjustments, which were increases to members and workers.
“The agreement which was entered into on January 17, 2022 by the union and Unisa agreed that employees who are on grades P7 to P17 [professional and support employees including fixed-term] would receive salary adjustments in line with clandestine adjustments done for those employees in grades P5 and P6 during September 2021,” the union said.
It said however the management of Unisa knowing that the next bargaining circle had commenced, “intentionally attempted to divide workers” by adjusting salary increments only for employees in grades 5 to P6 (including academic staff) in September 2021 without following collective bargaining processes.
This led to workers protesting in January 2022 and later halting graduations, over the decision of the employer, where parties agreed that the adjustments would be done and extended to all employees from September 1, 2021.
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