The official opening of the academic year at the University of Fort Hare’s East London campus took a chaotic turn when thousands of singing students interrupted vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.
Buhlungu had just started his address when well over 1000 the students started singing.
He attempted to carry on but the students sang non-stop at the top of their voices.
Attempts by dean of students Prince Dabula to silence them were in vain.
The students then started dancing in a militant manner.
UFH spokesman Khotso Moabi was seen talking to Buhlungu and about 20 academic and management leaders left the venue.
Earlier in the day, Buhlungu delivered a similar address at the university’s main campus in Alice without disruption.
Yesterday morning, students in East London held a mass meeting and decided not to commence the academic year until 400 registered students were accommodated.
“The university is in the process of verifying placements on the system concurrently with the registration process,” Moabi said.
He said once they had completed the process, they would know how many students had not been placed. “In procuring additional residence space the university needs to take prudent financial decisions based on actual student numbers,” he said.
He said they were meeting with the SRC late yesterday.
UFH East London campus premier (student leader) Kwanele Ntantala said they had warned management about the accommodation shortage last year. “Every beginning of the year we have a problem of registered students who do not get allocated accommodation.
“There are new students who are not from around the province. Where are those students expected to stay?”
Singing students disrupt UFH VC’s opening address
Buhlungu had just started his address when well over 1000 the students started singing.
He attempted to carry on but the students sang non-stop at the top of their voices.
Attempts by dean of students Prince Dabula to silence them were in vain.
The students then started dancing in a militant manner.
UFH spokesman Khotso Moabi was seen talking to Buhlungu and about 20 academic and management leaders left the venue.
Earlier in the day, Buhlungu delivered a similar address at the university’s main campus in Alice without disruption.
Yesterday morning, students in East London held a mass meeting and decided not to commence the academic year until 400 registered students were accommodated.
“The university is in the process of verifying placements on the system concurrently with the registration process,” Moabi said.
He said once they had completed the process, they would know how many students had not been placed. “In procuring additional residence space the university needs to take prudent financial decisions based on actual student numbers,” he said.
He said they were meeting with the SRC late yesterday.
UFH East London campus premier (student leader) Kwanele Ntantala said they had warned management about the accommodation shortage last year. “Every beginning of the year we have a problem of registered students who do not get allocated accommodation.
“There are new students who are not from around the province. Where are those students expected to stay?”
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