Protesters evacuated Stellenbosch University's (SU) Old Main Building (Ou Hoofgebou) just before midnight on 9 March 2016 after being served with a letter advising them that they were occupying the building unlawfully and had to vacate the premises.
A group of 32 dismissed workers of external service providers and 20 students had occupied the building late afternoon on Wednesday following a day of protest on the Stellenbosch campus.
The Old Main Building houses SU's Faculty of Law and the occupation affected academic activities. Alternative venues had to be found for Wednesday night's and Thursday's classes. Disruptions of this nature are unacceptable. The University acknowledges the rights of staff and students to participate in lawful and peaceful protest under the Constitution, but neither academic nor administrative activities may be disrupted; actions may not cause risks to staff and students, or to University property, and the rights of students to attend class and study may not be infringed upon.
Appeals to vacate the building were ignored and therefore the University served the group with a notice signed by Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, Chief Operating Officer (Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, attended a board meeting of Universities South Africa, formerly Higher Education South Africa, or HESA, in Johannesburg along with other vice-chancellors on Wednesday).
The notice informed protesters that their conduct constituted a contravention of Section 1 of the Trespass Act, 6 of 1955, and that a charge in terms of the Act would be laid with the South African Police Service. The occupiers subsequently left the building of their own accord.
"We are disappointed about the occupation and other disruptive activities on campus because there are open channels of communication available for any issue to be raised. We understand the occupation was about outsourcing, but particularly on this issue good progress has been made at the University," Prof Van Huyssteen said.
On Wednesday afternoon, a scheduled meeting of the task team appointed in 2015 to ensure the implementation of the agreement reached with these workers and students had to be cancelled because representatives did not turn up.
"Despite the latest wave of protest action in which dismissed workers of external service providers seem to be playing a key role, the University remains committed to the full implementation of the agreement reached with workers of external service providers at the end of November 2015," Prof Van Huyssteen added.
On Wednesday morning, a group of protesters – some armed with sticks and batons – moved from one residence to another in an attempt to solicit support, and reports of intimidation and vandalism have subsequently been received. Protesters gained access to residences by jumping over locked gates and breaking gates at one residence, while intimidating catering and cleaning staff employed by external service providers. A woman was chased by protestors, who removed her head scarf and tore her handbag. In another incident a supervisor who was intimidated by protesters suffered an asthma attack. As a result, cleaning and catering staff were advised to rather go home and contingency measures were put in place for student meals.
The Neelsie Student Centre was closed for safety reasons on Wednesday afternoon, and for some time people inside could not get out because protesters had gathered at the exits.
"The University is determined to move ahead with transformation, and we would like to make a strong appeal to all stakeholders to join hands and work together through constructive engagement. At the same time, we have a responsibility to protect the University's staff, students and property," Prof Van Huyssteen said.
