Students get ultimatum

2008-03-05 20:48

Durban - Management at Durban's Mangosuthu University of Technology on Wednesday issued an ultimatum to protesting students.

Pamphlets handed to students on Wednesday read: "Notice to all students: In light of the prevailing disturbance cause by Sadesmo, the university management hereby issue an ultimatum, to the effect that there must be normal resumption of classes by tomorrow (Thursday) morning failing which the university will be closed for all students by midday, Thursday 6 March 2008.

"All students will thereafter be required immediately to leave the university premises, including the premises both owned and leased by the university".

The pamphlet was signed by Professor Arron Ndlovu, the vice-chancellor and principal of the university.

Sadesmo is the South African Democratic Student Movement, an organisation aligned with the Inkatha Freedom Party.

Speaking to Sapa, Ndlovu said: "Students are doing the wrong business and the institution is tense right now.

Close down

"Classes are not resumed in a normal fashion and if protests continue tomorrow (Thursday), I will close the institution down to students."

Earlier students, security personnel and police engaged in running battles at the university.

Rubber bullets were used by university security personnel and the public order policing unit to disperse about 500 protesting students at the institution in Durban's Umlazi area.

Several charges were made by university security personnel in a bid to disperse the students who are angry at the suspension of three Students Representative Council (SRC) members as well as an apparent shortage of lecturers at the institution.

A Sapa reporter at the scene witnessed one member of the university's security personnel using a handgun, which he fired above students' heads.

It was not immediately clear whether there were live rounds in the weapon or whether blank cartridges were being fired.

SRC president Brian Masondo said on Wednesday that following the suspension of an SRC member on Tuesday, another two had been handed letters of suspension on Wednesday.

Thief

He said students were hoping to hand a memorandum to management on Wednesday and to start negotiations.

At one stage during Wednesday's protests, students claimed they saw a thief and chased him down the road.

However, when the thief apparently pulled out a shotgun, a group of about 300 students fled towards Mangosuthu Highway.

There they found themselves face to face with police who were attempting to clear the highway, which students had earlier blockaded.

They used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the students.

Police have made continuous efforts to keep the highway open to traffic.

Some protesters carried Inkatha Freedom Party banners while others were wearing Mangosuthu Buthelezi T-shirts while singing and chanting at the university's gates.

There were also posters calling for the resignation of the dean of students as well as highlighting the shortage of lecturers.

Rocks, bottles thrown

Each time security personnel charged, the protesting students retaliated by throwing rocks and bottles.

Police spokesperson Khephu Ndlovu said he was waiting for clarification on the handgun matter.

"But in any instance, no one except police can fire a handgun," he said.

Ndlovu said he had not received any reports of anyone firing handguns on the premises.

Media were barred from entering the institution with cameras.

A student, who spoke to Sapa on condition of anonymity, said: "There have been problems ever since the SRC was elected. They (the management) don't want to give them any power."

He said he believed that the dispute at the university was related to the fact that most of the SRC were members of Sadesmo.

In January the IFP Youth Brigade issued a statement calling on National Education Minister Naledi Pandor to intervene.

The brigade's acting chairperson, Patricia Lebenya, said at the time: "Since the IFP's student wing Sadesmo won nine of the 12 seats on the SRC during last year's elections, management has purposefully obstructed the Sadesmo-led SRC from carrying out its duties."

- SAPA