`plot’
Mukoni T Ratshitanga
Armed security guards are patrolling the University of Venda campus after an investigation by Military Intelligence (MI) apparently uncovered a “student plot” to torch the university.
The university’s vice-chancellor, Gessler Nkondo, called in the private guards amid a long-running boycott of classes, which has cost students much of the academic year. Last week, Nkondo warned that the campus might be closed down for the rest of the year.
Students are demanding that Nkondo and the rest of his administration step down, while many of the university’s academic staff this week called on the Education Ministry, the public protector and the Northern Province government for a commission of inquiry.
Education Minister Sibusiso Bengu’s representative, Lincoln Mali, said the ministry had not been “officially informed” about the problems on Thohoyandou campus, but would investigate.
Nkondo said he had called police on to the campus in May, after the offices of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) were burnt down. This had happened the day before Cyril Ramaphosa, chair of the industrial group Johnnic, was inaugurated as chancellor.
Nkondo said local police then brought in an MI agent, who reported that “we needed to know the background to certain things”.
Nkondo said: “We were told there were plots to burn down the main administration building, the library, the car pool and the principal’s house.”
The agent recommended that Nkondo employ armed security guards. Nkondo chose Khulani Springbok Patrols – the company that recently handed a top job to Charles Landman, former head of the Brixton murder and robbery squad.
“Our security staff was unable to deal with this sort of conspiracy,” Nkondo said.
He referred student claims that Khulani Springbok is charging R210 000 for a 10-week contract to the university’s finance office; but no one was available for comment.
Nkondo said he was unable to pinpoint the alleged plotters among the 7 500-strong student body.
Much of the opposition among students is being blamed on the university’s decision to raise student fees by 13% earlier this year. It is believed the SRC offices were burnt after student leaders had initially agreed to the increase.
The Azanian Students’ Congress and its sister organisation, the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (Pasma), have led opposition to the fee increase. Pasma warned this week the campus would be disrupted unless Khulani Springbok was removed. “1997 might turn to be 1976,” said a pamphlet issued in the movement’s name.
It also emerged this week that the university has decided to award all staff a 10% salary rise; they received an 18% increase last year. At the same time, the university has frozen recruitment of new staff, saying it is cash-strapped.
Hundreds of students massed this week to demand that Nkondo and his administration quit. He faced a similar rebellion on the campus late last year, triggered by allegations of mismanagement.