The University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus will re-open on Wednesday, university management announced on Tuesday.
This is after two weeks of sometimes violent protests by students and the temporary closure of the campus by management.
Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (Pasma) spokesperson Mametlwe Sebei said on Tuesday: ”This is not a permanent settlement, but a temporary suspension of hostilities pending unfolding engagements at various levels by various stakeholders.”
According to a joint statement issued by management and students on Tuesday, the university has agreed to suspend disciplinary action and charges against individuals involved in the recent protest action in which students broke campus windows.
The student and management were in a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to clarify their recent agreement and explore other issues, said Sebei.
The protest by the students — an alliance between Pasma, the African National Congress Youth League and the South African Students Congress — was sparked by the university’s proposal to turn the Mamelodi Campus into a community centre and permanently close the campus, as well as the academic and financial exclusion of students, fee increments and the eradication of the party based Student Representative Council, said Sebei.
In the joint statement, the university agreed that an opportunity would be granted for students — who were excluded from the various faculties on academic grounds in June 2006 and who did not request the Senate Appeal Committee to review the decision in this regard — to submit their appeals.
”Rigorous engagement will take place at an institutional level on the academic performances and support for black students in fields of study where there are very few qualified black people in the country,” the statement said.
Communication issues between the institution and its students, particularly at the Mamelodi campus, would receive immediate attention.
The possibility of broader socio-economic representation on the Senate Appeals Committee will be investigated.
”A broad forum involving all stakeholders will be set up as soon as possible to discuss the future of the Mamelodi Campus.”
Both parties to the statement declared their commitment to further constructive talks to address all unresolved issues as a matter of priority. — Sapa