A group of Sol Plaatje University students are facing disciplinary action after they were accused of disrupting classes, harassing fellow students and staff, and trying to halt construction work on the South Campus on Tuesday.
A GROUP of students from Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley are facing disciplinary action after they were accused of disrupting classes, harassing fellow students and staff, and trying to halt construction work on the South Campus on Tuesday.
The group is also linked to disruptions and the burning of tyres on campus during what was supposed to be a peaceful protest on Monday.
The senior manager in the office of the vice-chancellor, Kashini Maistry, said that the student representative council (SRC) had requested that the vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Andrew Crouch, receive a memorandum of demands from them on Monday.
“The memorandum was accepted by Professor Crouch, however, the student protest was not peaceful,” said Maistry.
“In the memorandum, the SRC has expressed its views on how the university should manage: student accommodation, mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations, the Postgraduate Certificate in Education, the registration of students with outstanding fees, the issue of data provision to students and catering in the residence halls.”.
Maistry pointed out that many of the outlined issues in the memorandum have been addressed previously with the SRC.
She said management responded to the memorandum of demands on the same night following receipt of the memorandum.
However, the disruptive group of students proceeded to the construction site on Tuesday and were accused of displaying violence and aggression.
The university added that health and safety protocols were violated at the construction site.
Maistry said that the academic programme and operations will continue at SPU while the situation is being monitored, and the necessary action will be taken as the need arises.
