#OutsourcingMustFall warns of protests

#OutsourcingMustFall movement has said that a string of protests would hit the Pretoria CBD.

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Pretoria - Protests will resume this week at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) if the institution continues to “disregard existing agreements”, the #OutsourcingMustFall movement said on Sunday.

“We had an agreement in terms of which hostilities were suspended on the basis of the agreement that workers’ wages would be improved to R5000 with immediate effect, insourcing would now be taking place, and the issue of R10 000 we are demanding would be referred to a task team,” #OutsourcingMustFall spokesman Mametlwe Sebei told reporters in Pretoria.

He said the agreement also included clauses that no employees hired by private contractors providing services to TUT would be punished or victimised for involvement in the recent protests which rocked the campus.

“Unfortunately, the security contractor and other contractors in the catering services are refusing to honour that agreement. They say they were not party to the agreement and it was concluded with TUT,” said Sebei.

“TUT has a commitment and agreements entered into voluntarily must be respected. Unless TUT takes decisive measures to make sure that these workers are back at work and that agreement is fully respected by TUT contractors, as of Tuesday we will be resuming our mass action at TUT.”

Sebei said this week the #OutsourcingMustFall movement would be locking horns with the higher education department over workers’ conditions at Tshwane North and Tshwane South colleges.

“The department of higher education has not been coming to the party. While universities are autonomous and manage their own affairs, colleges are directly managed by the department. Our battle is directly against the department,” said Sebei.

In the next two days “all our protests will be directed against the department of higher education”.

“We have been having meetings with leaders of students at these two colleges. We are looking at organising a total shut-down of the two colleges and their campuses until the department is willing to come to the party and talk to us on these issues,” said Sebei.

The #OutsourcingMustFall campaign was fully in support of students strikes at campuses including the University of Pretoria (UP).

Another #OutsourcingMustFall movement spokesman Vusi Mahlangu said a string of protests would hit the Pretoria CBD on Monday morning when UP students arrested after clashes at the institution appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

“The 27 students that were arrested [on Friday] are due to appear at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday so there will be protest actions. Students will be ferried in buses from the University of Pretoria to the magistrate’s court,” said Mahlangu.

“We have been practically involved in the full support for the students at UP in their struggle; we will also be urging other workers and student organisations to come out in their numbers to support the protest action that will also be taking place at UP on Monday.”

On Friday, the university said academic activities at its Hatfield and Groenkloof campuses were suspended following student clashes over language policy.

“The closing of the campuses is in the interests of students and staff; this is due to threats to disrupt academic activities. The university will also allow a consultation process over language policy to continue,” the university said on Friday.

Scuffles broke out between AfriForum Youth and Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) members on Thursday during a consultative meeting over languages at the institution.

A court order obtained by the university on Thursday prohibits the two organisations from any unlawful protest and disruption of academic activities at the institution.

The university said a language task team had proposed amendments to the institution’s language policy, which were to be tabled at Thursday’s meeting.

The proposals included that English be the primary language of instruction in all lectures, and that Afrikaans and sePedi be used to provide additional support to students in tutorials and practicals.

Staff and students were requested to forward their input to the task team through e-mail.

African News Agency