Strife-torn tech to re-open

2003-08-15 08:46

Johannesburg - After protests in which 360 students were arrested, classes will resume at Technikon Witwatersrand on Monday, with residences due to reopen from Friday afternoon, says the institution.

Spokesperson Mary Willemse said students would be readmitted on condition they signed a document promising to abide by the technikon's rules and regulations.

Willemse said the agreement was temporary, and students would be expected to reapply for admission to hostels once the technikon reopened.

All classes were suspended on Wednesday, and the residences shut down after the students were arrested during clashes with police.

The clashes followed the implementation of new regulations which prohibited visitors from entering the student residences.

Those arrested were initially scheduled to appear in Jeppe magistrate's court on Thursday, but the matter was transferred to Johannesburg magistrate's court and the hearing was scheduled for Friday.

The students would face charges under the Gatherings Act for holding an illegal protest, intimidation and trespassing, said a senior prosecutor outside Johannesburg magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Tension was high at the larger court, where parents of the arrested students had gathered.

In the interests of safety

Willemse said the technikon wanted to apologise to students and parents for the suspension of lectures this week.

"But we wish to reiterate that this step was taken in the interest of the safety of the TWR (Technikon Witwatersrand) community as a whole.

"The missed lectures will be made up during the period September 2-5, in consultation with the individual academic departments."

She said the situation at both the Doornfontein and Auckland Park campuses was calm on Thursday, with academic and administrative staff present to ensure the normal running of the institution.

Willemse said a delegation from the department of education visited the Doornfontein campus earlier in the day.

Education Minister Kader Asmal sent a special team headed by the education department's chief director of higher education, Dr Molapo Qhobela, to meet students and technikon management.

"The delegation was briefed by TWR management about the situation on campus, as well as the strategies that were already in place to ensure the speedy normalisation of the situation at the institution."

She said the department and technikon shared a concern for the safety of all students, and the protection of state property.

Several rapes, assaults in the past

"Management remains open to discussions with the student body and is prepared to pay the highest attention to students' concerns."

Willemse said that after the legal proceedings, the technikon would investigate the matter internally and take action against students found guilty of contravening its rules and regulations.

She also denied media reports that the institution had filed an interdict against police to release the arrested studentsd.

Thousands of students took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the new regulation, which the technikon said were designed as a security measure.

Willemse said that in the past three years there had been two cases of rape, three of assault and one of sexual harassment.

There also had been an incident in which a student apparently jumped out of a window.

About 1 800 students living at the technikon's Doornfontein and Auckland Park residences in Johannesburg were given a 18:00 deadline on Wednesday to vacate their rooms after the technikon shut down.

However, management announced to students gathered outside the Auckland Park campus on Wednesday night that those who were not able to find accommodation could go back to their rooms. Only 96 took up the offer.

Those who wanted to return could do so only after they signed an agreement that they would abide by the rules and regulations of the residences. Only a few opted to take up the offer.

The student leadership has accused management of changing the regulations without consulting them, but this was been denied by the technikon.

The department of education was not available for comment on Thursday night.

- SAPA