Fort Hare students say they have been evicted from residences. Photo: Abongile Ndevu
3 October 2016
Fort Hare university students on Buffalo City and Alice campuses say they will take university management to court following what they say is a decision by management to evict students from residences.
The university has suspended academic programmes till 11 October to allow the council to discuss whether it would be increasing fees next year or not and if so by how much.
Fort Hare students have been on a stayaway since the first week of September, demanding a change of security company following a number of break-ins in residences, as well as a shuttle service to transport students after hours. They are also demanding a zero percent fee increase next year and an end to outsourcing of university workers.
Student leader Sonwabiso Mamkeli said students would approach the Bhisho High Court. He said last week Thursday they had been told to vacate the residences.
But management denied that students had been evicted.
Fort Hare University stakeholder relations manager Lizo Phithi said students had made it clear that they were not going back to class.
“It was then that students were asked to leave and come back on 11 October with parents or guardians,” said Phithi.
At Walter Sisulu University campuses classes were continuing as usual. Buffalo City campus Students’ Representative Council president Thulani Landu said students had not taken a decision to join the “Fees Must Fall” protest as yet.
“For now we are still focusing on studies. We will wait for the university council to tell us if they are going to increase fees next year, then take it from there,” he said.
Bika campus student leader Luvo Jaza said: “We have not planned any protest as yet. For now we are still busy focusing on our studies.”