Some 350 staff and students of Stellenbosch University (SU) on Thursday (October 29) assembled in the Endler Hall on the campus where the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, led a discussion session on the recent student protests on campus.
It follows on the #FeesMustFall campaign of students across the country protesting against increased tuition fees. This has culminated in the announcement of President Jacob Zuma of a 0% increase in study fees for 2016.
Prof De Villiers said that although the protest action on the SU campus has ended, there are a number of issues that the Management must still resolve.
“I want to thank the whole SU community for pulling us through, including those who participated in the protests, which were in the main peaceful. It has certainly not been an easy period – with tensions at times running high – but we have been part of a watershed moment leaving neither country nor University unchanged,” he said.
Issues related to the exams, an interdict that was obtained last week but that has since been dropped, as well as student fees, were addressed.
Prof De Villiers also confirmed that the exams were postponed by a week, but that the December graduation ceremony will continue as scheduled. “I realise that this can cause problems with regard to plans made in advance. The decision was not taken lightly, but in the best interest of all.”
He said that the University learnt valuable lessons from the interdict that was obtained to end students’ occupation of Admin B. “What we can learn is that although the law affords us the remedy of an interdict, Management should go out of its way to proactively engage with students before things escalate. The University will work towards alternative ways of dealing with protest.
“Emotions about the interdict and other recent events are still raw. It is important to acknowledge that relationships have been damaged. Trust must be rebuilt, and I commit Management to remain in the conversation until this is achieved.”
With regard to student fees and the budget, Prof De Villiers said that the University is currently reviewing its budget “to see how this will affect our activities, and are awaiting detail on how the State intends making up the shortfall”.
On Friday, Prof De Villiers also announced that no disciplinary action will be taken against students who protested.
During the discussion, students and staff also had the chance to have their say. Most of the speakers agreed that the University should do even more to repair relations between the administration and students in general after the protest.
A student of Kayamandi mentioned that there are only six students from Kayamandi studying at the University and this shows that the University does not serve all of its local communities.
Another student asked how the issues of
Another student asked how the issue of reduced registration fees currently being addressed at other universities will be addressed at SU. Two staff members referred to the trauma experienced by many students during the protest action and called for the University to pay particular attention to this matter.
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