Student leaders at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology have warned that if any student is removed from its residences, they would approach the courts for an interdict.
“Nobody will be kicked out,” said #FeesMustFall’s Lubabalo Kasana. “About 40% of students are still in the residences. If any attempt is made by the university to remove them, we will approach a judge for further action.”
On Wednesday, students carrying heavy bags and wheeling suitcases were seen leaving the CPUT Bellville campus after the institution on Monday via a communique sent by Vice Chancellor Dr Prins Nevhutalu, gave students until 16:00 on November 18 to move out.
“For the past few weeks CPUT has been held hostage by a group of students who are determined to make the university ungovernable. The academic activities have been disrupted and the destruction of university property has continued unabated,” he said.
Kasana said the students who are still in the residences are mostly there because they don’t have anywhere else to go or they want to “sort this matter out”.
“There is no sense in clearing the residence and calling the academic year to an end. Next year when we come back, the problems will still be here,” he said.
“This is the easy way out. We as a movement don’t want that. We need to sit down and talk about it, because so far no solutions have been found.”
‘They can’t be victimised like that’
The short notice given to students to vacate was also insensitive, Kasana insisted.
“This institution consists of people from all sorts of economic backgrounds. Those who are still here don’t have accommodation or the means to immediately find a way to get home. They can’t be victimised because of that.”
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the only students authorised to be on campus were those who needed to write their final year exams, those busy with projects and experiments and students given permission by the dean of students "due to extenuating circumstances".
“There were never any plans to go in at 16:00 to remove the students,” she said.
No instruction has yet been given in response to students without authorisation who are still occupying their rooms, Kansley confirmed.
All is currently quiet at its campuses following weeks of violent protests and damage to the property of the institution.
Nobody will be kicked out of res - #FeesMustFall leader
“Nobody will be kicked out,” said #FeesMustFall’s Lubabalo Kasana. “About 40% of students are still in the residences. If any attempt is made by the university to remove them, we will approach a judge for further action.”
On Wednesday, students carrying heavy bags and wheeling suitcases were seen leaving the CPUT Bellville campus after the institution on Monday via a communique sent by Vice Chancellor Dr Prins Nevhutalu, gave students until 16:00 on November 18 to move out.
“For the past few weeks CPUT has been held hostage by a group of students who are determined to make the university ungovernable. The academic activities have been disrupted and the destruction of university property has continued unabated,” he said.
Kasana said the students who are still in the residences are mostly there because they don’t have anywhere else to go or they want to “sort this matter out”.
“There is no sense in clearing the residence and calling the academic year to an end. Next year when we come back, the problems will still be here,” he said.
“This is the easy way out. We as a movement don’t want that. We need to sit down and talk about it, because so far no solutions have been found.”
‘They can’t be victimised like that’
The short notice given to students to vacate was also insensitive, Kasana insisted.
“This institution consists of people from all sorts of economic backgrounds. Those who are still here don’t have accommodation or the means to immediately find a way to get home. They can’t be victimised because of that.”
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the only students authorised to be on campus were those who needed to write their final year exams, those busy with projects and experiments and students given permission by the dean of students "due to extenuating circumstances".
“There were never any plans to go in at 16:00 to remove the students,” she said.
No instruction has yet been given in response to students without authorisation who are still occupying their rooms, Kansley confirmed.
All is currently quiet at its campuses following weeks of violent protests and damage to the property of the institution.
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