Nehawu to challenge suspension of five members after ‘unsafe’ 2022 graduation ceremony
A graduation ceremony at Unisa had to be cancelled after protesting staff members invaded a hall and blocked an entrance to the campus.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has denied that it was served with a court order meant to prevent it from disrupting activities at Unisa via intimidation and harassment.
This follows an incident in which its members allegedly invaded a hall during a graduation ceremony in the morning last week Wednesday.
A pepper spray canister was discharged during the melee.
According to Unisa, this caused “considerable panic and discomfort to students, guests and staff” and “left many feeling unsafe on the university’s premises”.
While all the invited and qualifying students could successfully graduate during the session, the incident led to another graduation ceremony scheduled for the same evening being cancelled.
This was after “the same protesters blocked the entrance to the Muckleneuk campus and made access difficult for graduating students and other guests”.
In the wake of the debacle, five of the union’s branch office bearers were suspended, facing numerous charges including “insolence”.
Nehawu national organiser for higher education Ntsako Nombelani slammed the suspensions as “unlawful” and said it would challenge their suspension.
“Their suspension is in contravention of the Labour Relations Act,” said Nombelani.
He said according to the act, Unisa was supposed to notify and consult with Nehawu before suspending any office bearers.
“The university is hell-bent on dismissing our comrades,” he said.
“The university’s labour relations office has not done justice to this particular process.”
He described the charges of insolence as “trumped-up” and claimed Unisa had not undertaken any investigation into these charges.
“There is no conclusive evidence against our people.”
Listen to Nombelani:
“We do not condone the use of such tactics to voice discontent,” Unisa spokesperson Edgar Rathelele.
Rathelele said the university shared the pain, frustration and anger of all the stakeholders caused by the “unfortunate conduct” on the part of their staff members.
“We condemn such actions in the strongest terms possible.”
He said lawlessness, violence and intimidation were not provided for in the labour relations act or Unisa policies.
Management has thus taken steps to protect the university’s integrity and its academic programmes, as well as to protect life and property.
The five staff members, who occupied leadership roles in Nehawu, had been suspended from April 19, pending the disciplinary hearings.
“[The incident] caused harm to the university’s image. Scores of workers, students and visitors were exposed to immense risks. As a result, a court interdict is in place and enforceable against any illegal activity that seeks to disturb operations at the university.”
Rathelele also said no union had been granted the certificate to strike by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
Workers were advised to report for work.
He said staff that failed to report for work would face disciplinary measures.
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