Students allowed to stay at UKZN

Students at UKZN's campuses were allowed to stay in their residences when authorities changed their minds after having ordered them out by noon.

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Durban - Students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s campuses were allowed to stay in their residences on Friday when authorities changed their minds, after having ordered them out by noon.

This followed a week of student protests marred by violence and arson, particularly at the Westville campus.

But those who remain will have to abide by stringent regulations, including restrictions on visitors and the holding of meetings.

 

The university reconsidered its stand after receiving requests from both students and staff for students to remain in residence to attend to various academic obligations, including research, practicals, and the recovery of lost time in preparation for tests and assignments, said university spokesman Lesiba Seshoka.

But he stressed that the decision to close the student residences was “precipitated by the untenable circumstances”.

 

Students went on the rampage over plans by the university to stop what is known as the Registration Appeals Committee (RAC) process. This process allows students owing fees to enter into an agreement with the institution to pay their debts in instalments while continuing with their studies.

They also demanded that the university scrap a new policy designed to award National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding to the top performing students first.

It has also been suggested the protests were related to political positioning taking place among student leaders for Student Representative Council elections next month

By the time the announcement had been made, many students at the Westville campus had already packed up and left before the noon deadline.

Yesterday, there was an uneasy calm at the “P” Residence where a group of around 20-diehards had vowed not to leave. They called for the release of two student leaders, including Westville SRC president Lukhanyo Mtshingana.

On the other side of a traffic circle from the residence, a large police and security company contingent waited beside a building blackened by fire in the week’s protests.

Both students vowing to stay and those who headed home said there were financial issues around being ordered to leave the residences at such short notice.

“My gogo (granny) in Ndunduma who is on pension heard last night on the news about the residence closing,” said BCom student Sizwe Nene. “There is no money until pension day, on October 1,” said Nene, adding that he had not been part of the rioting. I cannot go anywhere.”

Another who did not wish to give his name asked: “Where do we go in the middle of the month? We’ll have no money.”

He said he was staying put.

Waiting for transport with packed bags, was physiotherapy honours student Nokukhanya Masango. She said she had made urgent plans with her mother in the kwaNongoma area to get R200 to her so that she could catch two short and one long-distance taxi home.

Masango said she had not planned to go home over the holidays which would have started on Monday and described the protests as having been “bad”.

“Luckily I have a bursary but most students depend on the RAC, especially black students.”

Usually she would have supported their cause, she said.

“But this time it was bad. I was afraid to go out of my room… I was scared.”

A day student who would not give his name, saying it could lead to him being beaten up, said the protests had polarised the campus, more along class than race lines.

“Fee-payers are not happy with the campus closing. They have little sympathy for those who are not able to afford fees. One would expect they would be more sympathetic. I don’t agree with the violence but I understand the nature of the problem. People are bummed out about how violent it is, though” he said.

Foreign students did not seem aware of the university having made special arrangements for them. “I cannot throw myself on to the street,” said Tinashe Matemera, a BCom Accounting student from Zimbabwe.

“When you come here at the beginning of the year you pay for everything upfront. All of a sudden they tell you to leave.”

He said he would wait “until the military comes”.

“I am not going anywhere,” agreed Buda Mafabuda, a PhD physics student from Zambia. He said he could not afford a week to interrupt his studies, let alone force him to have to get his visa extended.

Khomotso Morena, a biological science student from Lesotho, said he needed to be on campus to take care of mice in a laboratory. “If one day goes by that they don’t get food, all of them will die,” he said.

 

Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane could not say how many student arrests there had been in total.

 

Independent on Saturday