The student body says the campus is “so militarised” and they are now “confused”.
The South African Student Congress says Mpumalanga University vice-chancellor Thoko Mayekiso is responsible for on-campus violent protests.
Provincial secretary Jacob Tau says there have been no academic progress in the institution and “all that students are faced with are heavily armed security all over the campus”.
“There has been confusion generally. There’s nobody attending to anybody,” Tau said.
He said Tuesday this week when they arrived on campus to begin with their exams they found no lecturers, “nobody”.
“Only heavily armed guards. It’s a militarised campus. Then the next thing the guards told the students, ‘we will shoot you. That’s all we will do’. The students were provoked and of course the security guards began shooting them and the police also came,” Tau told 013NEWS Wednesday mid-day.
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He said the “main issue” at the centre of the squabble between students and the varsity management is “corruption” and “irregularities”.
A week ago, staff members belonging to Nehawu marched to both the University and the department of higher education for Mayekiso to be removed from her position over allegations of corruption.
The management and cops have condemned the violence and said the attacking and injuring of a police officer with stones by the students was “uncalled for”.
Several students were arrested and charged with public violence.
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The management said they do not know “what is going to happen” in a situation like this.
The University’s Dr Paul Maminza said there are “protesters” who are disturbing the students who should write exams.
“We have not sent the students home,” he told News24.
“They are still on campus and we are hopeful that these protesters will allow students to write their examinations,” Maminza said.
The police said they will engage “with the relevant parties to ensure that learners write their exams”.
“We will continue with maximum police presence at the University,” police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said.
(edited by ZK)
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