to die for
Evidence wa ka Ngobeni
Vista University’s final 1998 examination results improved dramatically – and some lecturers admit this was after they received death threats from students.
Lectures at the university’s five campuses were disrupted last year by a student boycott, and the final examinations were postponed for two weeks after students said they needed more time to prepare.
But the university recorded a startling improvement in its results compared to recent years.
Lecturers at the university – who refused to be named for fear of attacks from students – said this was because they were threatened that they would be shot if they did not increase students’ marks.
Vista Sebokeng campus registrar, Tami Plaatjie, conceded they had problems last year, but denied that the improvement in the pass rate was because of death threats. “At present nothing like that has been established as far as I know, and there is no official complaint from anyone.”
Vista’s vice-chancellor Hue Afrika has a letter from his lecturing staff outlining the problems they face. A staffer said the letter, sent in November 1998, was aimed at addressing the “pressing issue” of death threats and “a way forward”.
Plaatjie said he was not aware of the letter and said staff problems were always addressed.
“All departments at Sebokeng and other Vista campuses have been affected by this matter. We cannot allow this to happen, what kind of students are we going to produce?” asked one of the lecturers.
“Vista students, particularly here at Sebokeng, always cause havoc during the examinations saying they are not prepared to write exams even when they know the dates months in advance,” a senior official said.
The Student Representative Council said last year that students were not prepared to write examinations as the timetables were “congested” and lecturers were not well prepared.
Another lecturer said the staffers at the Sebokeng English department definitely received death threats.
English department head Devi Sarinjeive said she could not comment on the matter as her contract did not allow her to speak to the media.