We have received the recent communication by the University regarding the
protests with displeasure. The University has resorted to scare tactics in
order to silence the cries of students. We will not be intimidated by a
university that has chosen the side of the oppressor and insists on telling
half-truths.
In their statement, they state that “A number of legal and disciplinary
breaches were reported today…”. We have not breached any section of The
Student Disciplinary Code. The university has failed to mention how
students who were exercising their right as provided for in Section 17 of
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, had their lives
threatened by reckless drivers. They have failed to acknowledge that a
HiTech vehicle sped onto Lucas Avenue where students were standing. They
have failed to acknowledge the incident where a purported staff member sped
into the university on Prince Alfred Street, where students were peacefully
standing. They have further failed to acknowledge that their staff workers
and Deans are the same people who are using intimidation and undesirable
language on students protesting peacefully.
Our stance on a peaceful protest has been clear and strong, yet we have
been accused of abusing university property. We perceive the University’s
latest communique as a threat and request for them to provide us with
evidence for any property that has been abused or damaged by students.
Senior management requested a meeting with the SRC executive on 16 March
2021. This request was denied because we refuse to be the university’s
mouthpiece. Senior management tells the SRC one thing and releases
communication that does not correlate to what was said in meetings. This
was seen in the disbursement of allowances for NSFAS students. In a meeting
attended by the SRC, it was said all NSFAS students would receive
allowances. The communication that was later released stated that they
would only start paying these allowances to “NSFAS qualifying returning
Oppidan students”. Senior management must address all students virtually. A
request was sent to the Vice Chancellor in this regard. The request was
that a zoom meeting is hosted, where the SRC executive will be panelists
and the rest of the student body attend. There has been no response to
date.
It is unfortunate that the university expects us to continuously perform
our poverty in order to gain access to education. We have pleaded with the
university to postpone the start of the academic year and they have
blatantly ignored this. It is unfair that the university still takes the
stance of ‘business as usual’ when so many students are being left behind.
We continuously stand with the mandate of SAUS. We will not tolerate that
and until the university puts all students on equal footing, we will be
continuing with our national shutdown using peaceful means.
Aluta Continua.
#RUAsenzinex
#NationalShutdown
#Sizofundangenkani
#Asinamali
Issued: 17th March 2021. Office of the SRC Secretary-General, Mitchelle
Makokove. Contact: e:srcsg@ru.ac.za t:+27 (0) 46 603 7081/7083