/ 4 August 2006

Zululand students protest against courses, hostels

A memorandum was handed over to the University of Zululand’s rector and vice-chancellor, Rachel Gumbi, on Friday by students protesting against a ”lack of accommodation” and about many of the university’s courses ”not being nationally recognised”.

The Inkatha Freedom Party-aligned student body the South African Democratic Students’ Movement (Sadesmo) has promised a boycott of lectures.

However, university spokesperson Mike Khuboni said that there was no disruption to lectures at the university.

Sadesmo has complained that many of the courses at the university are not recognised courses.

Khuboni said: ”We cannot offer any courses that are not recognised, otherwise we would not get subsidies from the government.”

He said the university understands the plight of students who graduate and then cannot get jobs. He said he suspects this is the reason for the accusation, and students are worried about their futures.

”The demand in the job market is for technical skills, so those who do not attain technical qualifications will battle,” said Khuboni.

Sadesmo members staged a peaceful protest on campus on Thursday.

The Witness newspaper quoted Sadesmo chairperson Christian Ntuli as saying: ”We have outdated courses like a degree in correctional services, which is not in line with the employment requirements of the Department of Correctional Services. Only a matric pass is needed to be a correctional officer.”

Commenting on Sadesmo’s complaints that there is insufficient accommodation, Khuboni said construction of new residences is due to start on Monday. ”We sent out notices a few days ago informing staff and students that construction workers and vehicles will be on the campus.”

He said that because the institution is in a rural setting, accommodation is a ”bigger problem than at urban universities”.

He said the delay in construction was due to the fact that the university had to go through a tender process before construction could proceed.

The university last year announced the construction of hostels after it received a loan from the Development Bank of South Africa. — Sapa