An agreement was reached by Wits University’s senior management and the Wits SRC to resume all academic programmes on Wednesday, October 28.
Vice-chancellor Adam Habib said the two bodies reached a resolution on a series of proposals put forward.
“We have agreed to postpone the examinations and a new examination timetable will be shared with students before the end of the week,” he said.
Among the agreements was the matter of outsourcing of workers.
Habib said the university recognises that outsourcing is an exploitative practice and a commission would be established to investigate its effects at Wits and possible alternative models. He said that no disciplinary action will be taken against students who were involved in legitimate forms of protest.
In a statement the Wits SRC said: “We note that while our protest to the Union Buildings on 23rd October was partly successful, there remain several questions that the university in particular needs to address. We note that there is uncertainty [over] the 0% increment figure in respect of upfront fee payment and international students’ fees.”
Wits SRC said they condemned the politicisation of the student protest.
“We recognise the achievement of the student movement to place on the national agenda the issue of affordable, quality higher education.
“… We further note and strongly condemn the politicisation of our protests as a student body. This protest action was initiated by the Wits Student Representative Council with the sole intention of advancing the student agenda and nothing else. We would like to ensure the student body that this remains our sole premise. Further, we reject any political influences that seek to distract this cause,” the statement read.
The University of Pretoria also reached an agreement with student representatives on Monday with UP Vice-Chancellor Cheryl Merle de la Rey saying a formal agreement was signed with all the parties, in which it was agreed that academic activities would resume on Tuesday.