Calm returns to campus
2003-11-18 14:54
Mafikeng - Police members had left the campus of the University of North
West on Tuesday following a request from its management to do so, a
spokesperson said.
"The situation is under control," said Director Tlhalefang
Kuetsile.
The university's management met members of the student
representative council (SRC) earlier in the day and agreed to ask
the police to leave campus.
At the same time, the SRC undertook to maintain order and
discipline among its constituency in the context of an interdict
preventing the students from barricading the university's
entrances, Sam Motabogi said.
"They also committed themselves to continue discussions with
management to resolve the problems amicably."
Students have been protesting since last week, claiming they had
been excluded from preparatory talks for the merger with
Potchefstroom University.
On Monday, police fired teargas and rubber bullets after
students barricaded the main entrance. Four students were wounded
and eight were arrested. Two of them were later released, Kuetsile
said.
She said the remaining six were to appear in court on charges of
public violence.
The campus was closed for student activities from Monday.
Staff returned to work on Tuesday, Motabogi said.
He said the management and heads of department would meet later
in the day to determine a time for when the examinations could be
rescheduled.
In an SABC radio programme, vice-chancellor Ngoato Takalo said
the announcement about the reopening of the university for students
could only be made once the issue of the rescheduled examinations
had been resolved.
She said various workshops had been held to canvass interest
groups of the university about the merger.
"Right from the beginning everybody was invited to participate."
SRC deputy president Bafana Kunene said during the programme
that the students were committed to a peaceful situation at the
university, and also wanted to write their examinations before the
end of the year.
"We still want to talk to the university management."
- SAPA