UP to look into police ‘force’ against workers’ revolt
In a video, a police officer can be heard asking a protester “What will you do to me?” where later gunfire and teargas become the topic of the day as workers continue to protest for better working conditions and wages.
University of Pretoria (UP) protesting staffers had to run for dear life as a fracas between them and police ensued at the Hatfield campus, east of Pretoria, on February 26.
The staffers are part of a wage protest, and in a video circulating on social media, an officer can be heard asking a protester “What will you do to me?”
And in turn, a protester asking the same question of the officer?
Seconds later, the officer fires a tear gas canister into the crowd and as they disperse for cover, rubber bullets are fired.
It is unclear what happened before the altercation but in a statement, UP confirmed teargas and rubber bullets were used as “police acted to disperse the striking workers”.
It said however it would also look into the reports of use of force in the incident.
“A group of striking staff unlawfully disrupted academic activities. Police officers engaged the striking staff and asked them to follow the picketing rules.”
The university said it took all reports of the use of force seriously and was currently gathering information to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Our priority is always the safety and well-being of all staff and students. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.”
It said the situation at the university remained calm after the protesters returned to the designated picketing area.
“Police are still on the premises monitoring the situation with our security personnel and we strongly condemn the illegal disruption of academic activity on our campus.”
The university promised action and maintained that it was committed to resolving disputes with the aggrieved workers through constructive dialogue and within the boundaries of the law.
The university headed to court for an order for its Nehawu-affiliated staff to desist from disrupting operations.
UP said it obtained the order against the striking employees after they disrupted operations at the Hatfield, Pretoria east campus on February 19.
The disruptions outraged students as many had started their 2024 semester.
The strike is allegedly part of a wage dispute between the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and UP, which turned into a protected strike last week.
This thrust UP to host classes online temporarily as the disruptions lasted almost four days, with students unable to access the campus because of blocked-off gates.
“This decision will affect classes conducted on the Hatfield campus only.”
Spokesperson Sashlin Girraj confirmed that the university served court papers on the striking workers on February 22, informing them that the order sought to maintain safety on its premises amid ongoing strike action.
“The court order seeks to prevent striking workers from engaging in certain activities that could disrupt the operations and safety of the university community.”
The court orders the following:
– restricting picketing activities to the demarcated area of the Hatfield campus engineering gate, as agreed upon in the picketing rules.
– prohibiting picketing near or on any other of the university’s campuses, except in the designated area.
– prohibiting intimidation of non-striking employees, replacement labour, or any other individuals.
– preventing obstruction of vehicles or traffic entering or leaving the university’s premises.
– ensuring no blockage of entrances or gates on any of the university’s campuses.
– allowing access to all members of the public, including visitors, employees, students, and service providers.
– prohibiting any unlawful or violent actions, including intimidation, coercion, threats, assault, or property damage.
– enforcing a minimum distance of 100m from any entrance of the university’s campuses, except in the designated area.
– restraining any unlawful interference with the university’s operations, activities, and academic programmes.
– prohibiting any violent or unlawful conduct in pursuit of wage demands, including harassment, assault, prevention of services, interference with traffic, and property damage.
AfriForum Youth manager Ronald Peters said he was disappointed by the unrest at UP and of striking employees who were intimidating students and denying them access to the campus.
Peters said the first day of class at the campus was chaotic, and the youth organisation demanded action.
He said a large number of the campus security personnel were part of the strike, which left campus security vulnerable.
He said the UP management had enough time to take the necessary precautions to ensure that the academic year kicked off without problems and that the strike did not interfere with lectures and students’ safety.
“UP management must now fulfil its responsibility and ensure that students who want to enter or leave the campus can do so freely and without fear of intimidation.”
The strike began on February 15.
Nehawu vowed it would embark on industrial action and strike action indefinitely until their demands were met.
The following demands were made to UP:
– 7% increase
– 13th cheque
– Once-off bonus
– Five days’ leave
– Long service cash award at 10, 15 and 20 years
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