Unisa campus at a standstill as protesters shut it down

11 January 2016 - 16:57 By Karabo Ngoepe
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An aerial view of the University of South Africa (Unisa) Pretoria campus.
An aerial view of the University of South Africa (Unisa) Pretoria campus.
Image: Supplied

Protesters have shut down the University of South Africa's Sunnyside Campus, expressing their dissatisfaction with management.

Cleaners, security guards and student leaders took to the streets in an effort to force management to do away with outsourcing and permanently employ workers on contracts. Not everyone supported the protests, with many students saying they wanted to register.

A student, who asked not to be named, said the action was disadvantaging them.

"I don't have access to online platforms to register. I used money to come here and sort out my registration process so that I can study. They should not be stopping us from registering while they fight with management," she said.

Economic Freedom Fighters students' command leader Mpho Morolane said the university had not kept its end of the bargain in terms of doing away with outsourcing.

"Council mandated the management of the University that a task team should be set up as a matter of urgency. To date, there is no task team. Secondly, we are saying all students who come from poor backgrounds and can't afford must register for free. Gone are the days where students who want to study further are left out by the system," he said.

Students started leaving the campus shortly after 13:30, as many realised they would not be able to get anything done. One student said he would try to register online instead, while others said they would return on another day.

Source:News24

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