TUT protests spills over to other University campuses

Protests at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) spread to its Ga-Rankuwa, eMalahleni and Pretoria campuses, it said in a statement.

"The protest action, which has already resulted in the suspension of business at the Soshanguve North and South Campuses last week, started to spill over to other University campuses today [Thursday]," TUT said in an early morning statement.

University management met student leaders on Wednesday evening in a bid to resolve points of contention, primarily student funding.

"Although progressive proposals from the University's side were tabled, these were rejected by the student leaders."

The SA Students Congress last week criticised university management for failing to help needy students.

"It is outrageously irresponsible for university management to provide students with no alternative than sending them home," Gauteng deputy chairman Sthembiso Ndlovu said in a statement at the time.

"Students are cancelling their academic courses due to outstanding fees and NSFAS budget cuts."

In September the university was forced to close some of its campuses when protests about student funding became violent. The protests lasted almost three weeks and 18 cars were torched.