The Mafikeng campus of the North West University will reopen on Friday and classes will resume on Monday, the university said on Thursday.
The campus was closed for staff and students last week after protests by both groups against management and the suspension of students. Protests and unrest continued until the Department of Education intervened.
University spokesperson Sam Motaboji said on Thursday morning that management met with the student representative council (SRC) and representatives of the breakaway Student Front group.
”After intense deliberations and compromises on all sides, management had agreed to reopen the campus tomorrow, May 14 … while classes will resume on Monday May 17 2004,” he said.
He said all the parties have agreed on a memorandum that will form the foundation of all ”future interactions between management and students on the Mafikeng campus”.
According to the memorandum of agreement:
- The suspension of eight students in April will be lifted and a one-person commission will be appointed to investigate the charges against those students;
- An interdict obtained last week will be discharged and the memorandum of agreement will be made a court order;
- The rules of engagement — which include that there will be no disruption of teaching, examinations or any other lawful activity of the university, and that there will be no violence and threats against any staff or students — will be honoured by students;
- The process of restructuring of the student governance will take place in accordance with requirements of the law; and
- The negotiating process over outstanding issues will continue at a forum called the Campus Negotiating Forum.
Examinations for this semester will be rescheduled to the end of May, running until June 9. — Sapa