A court bid by the Gauteng education department (GDE) to have Congress of SA Students (Cosas) leaders suspended from school, has been postponed to Thursday.
GDE representative Lebelo Maloka said the department was expected to apply for a court interdict in the Johannesburg High Court. The department initially said it would apply for the interdict on Wednesday.
Maloka said education authorities wanted to prevent the 11 Cosas leaders from coming on to their school grounds because they would most likely disrupt classes.
About 10 000 Cosas students last Friday held a march to demand free school education for all from 2003. The protest action was marked by looting, theft and damage to property. The march was illegal.
Last year two Cosas members were arrested when protestors demolished and looted hawkers’ stands during a similar march. Several organisations including the United Democratic Students’ Movement, the SA Human Rights Commission and the African National Congress condemned last week’s action. Former president Nelson Mandela also spoke out against the violence.
Cabinet on Wednesday urged student and youth organisations to ensure their members observed the law and their actions did not disrupt education. It said those responsible for vandalism, destruction of property and other crimes should face the legal consequences.
Government representative Joel Netshitenzhe said Cabinet had briefly reflected on the violent protests in Johannesburg, as well as in Pietersburg (Polokwane) where University of the North students rioted last week.
”It was emphasised that the rule of law should be affirmed by all concerned, and that any individuals responsible for destruction of property, vandalism and other acts of illegality should face the legal consequences.
”Government calls on student and youth organisations to ensure that their members observe the law and their actions do not disrupt the country’s education,” Netshitenzhe said in a statement.
Meanwhile, student leaders on Wednesday failed to turn up for a scheduled meeting with University of the North management to resolve an impasse which resulted in R4-million worth of riot damage to the campus last week.
”We are very disappointed. We had hoped we would be able to reach each other somehow,” university spokesman Kgalema Mohuba said.
He said the Students Representative Council apparently pulled out of the meeting to allow national leaders of the SA Students Congress (Sasco) to hold talks with management on Thursday instead. ”We will see whether they come or not,” he said.
”Whoever wishes to meet us in an attempt to resolve this impasse, we will give them an audience.” An SRC representative could not be reached for comment.
Students rioted last week after management refused to authorise a R300 000 party. They also wanted university administrator Patrick Fitzgerald to resign. The university obtained an interim interdict on Friday, prohibiting students from harassing fellow students or staff members, and from damaging property.
About 60% of classes were back to normal by Wednesday, Mohuba said. Police were still patrolling the campus. Fitzgerald on issued a statement to the university community condemning the violence and vandalism.
”At no stage did management close the doors to student delegations or refuse to consider, discuss and debate student perspectives,” he said.
”No petition, properly articulated demands or final warning was delivered to management before this minority group embarked on their rampage.”
The SA Council of Churches (SACC) denounced the students actions.
”No amount of explanation can wish away the sad fact that the people’s facility had been extensively damaged. If there are grievances, let these be resolved without resorting to violence,”
the statement said.
It also said it was saddened by last Friday’s Cosas march. ”We cannot afford to have a situation where ordinary hawkers making an honest living have their goods damaged by people who are pushing an unclear agenda.
”We have to help build our democracy and a new society with a new set of values,” the SACC statement said. – Sapa