Students banned from striking
Those who take part in unauthorised gatherings will be arrested and expelled from college.
PIETERMARITZBURG High Court has passed an order interdicting and restraining any Esayidi FET College students from holding unauthorised gatherings or striking at any of the Esayidi FET Colleges.
Students from Enyenyezi, Gamalakhe, Port Shepstone, Umzimkhulu, Kokstad, and Clydesdale Campuses are no longer allowed to strike within the college’s premises or within one kilometre of the campus.
The order follows the numerous strikes conducted by Esayidi FET College students in a few months. On Wednesday last week, 21 Gamalakhe FET students were arrested for public violence and for attacking the police, when the students took their grievances to the street.
Grievances concerned bursaries and the lack of transparency when it comes to the college’s financial aid.
“Students have been on strike since Monday,” said police spokesman Captain Gerald Mfeka. He revealed that the strike was over funds owed to students.
Capt Mfeka explained that the strike started to get violent when students set tyres alight and began stoning the police. “Two police vehicles were stoned and some of the nearby houses were also affected,” said Captain Mfeka.
The 21 students who were arrested appeared in the Ramsgate Magistrate’s Court last Thursday and were released on a warning.
A source revealed that the strikes had started to spread to the Kokstad and Umzimkhulu campuses too. That is why the college has taken the matter to court.
