Academic and operational activities at all Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) campuses would resume on Monday after its closure due to a spate of violent protests, TUT said on Friday.
Spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said in a statement that the campuses would re-open following progress in talks between management and student leaders.
“The two week-long protest action was sparked by the lack of funding for students to study. In a bid to address the issue a meeting of the full TUT Council also approved a proposal from the university to ensure that R46-million in student loans is made available to assist a group of 2 500 unfunded students for the remainder of 2014.”
This was in addition to R30-million, which the university had already made available this year to cover a shortfall of funding by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for returning students.
“More detailed information on the academic recovery plan as well as the rules pertaining to these student loans will be communicated to students after Monday.” she said.
According to De Ruyter, an urgent court application tabled by the Student Representative Council (SRC) at TUT for the closure of residences, was struck from the roll in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday.
Students would be allowed to return to their residences, but first needed to sign an undertaking that they would not be involved in any violent activities, disrupt university activities or damage property, she said –Sapa