The Eastern Cape Technikon’s Umtata campus has been closed indefinitely after student unrest on the campus on Tuesday. Technikon spokesperson Angela Church said the campus was closed at 5pm in order to ensure the safety of students and staff as well as the institution’s property.
The decision to close the campus came after students began a strike in the morning.
A group of students toyi-toyied around the campus and blocked the main entrance with burning tyres and dustbins. They then smashed windows and doors of the administration block.
By Tuesday night the situation was quiet but tense. Students remained inside their rooms despite a written instruction by the vice-chancellor, Professor Quadra Mjoli, posted on the main entrance to the campus ordering them to leave the campus.
The statement said: ”All students are required to vacate their rooms in the residences and leave the campus by 17:00, Tuesday, August, 10, 2004. Notice of the date of re-opening of the campus will be given as soon as possible through media.”
Students Representative Council president Vuyo Noko said the students had ”got angry and became uncontrollable” because the Technikon’s administration had failed to respond to their grievances.
The students are demanding more accommodation space on campus, more computer labs and that the campus caterers be changed.
Church said Tuesday’s uprising caught the Technikon by surprise because a letter sent by the students to Mjoli, had given the administration until August 30 to respond.
The student protest action comes four days after the Technikon’s staff returned to work after their own strike. – Sapa