Top academic begs colleagues to help end crisis at Unizul

26 September 2016 - 18:50 By Nathi Olifant And Yasantha Naidoo

A University of Zululand academic has written an open letter to her colleagues appealing to them to stand together to resolve an ongoing strike crisis on campus. The senior academic‚ whose name is known to TMG‚ sent an internal memo to staff on September 21‚ encouraging colleagues to back calls for a special meeting of the Senate. This comes after university staff have been on strike for seven weeks‚ since wage talks broke down between management and the National Education‚ Health and Allied Workers Union. After talks collapsed‚ the university implemented a no work‚ no pay policy against striking staff. In addition the academic programme was suspended on August 30 following violent protests at the KwaDlangezwa campus. In the early hours of Monday morning‚ several university vehicles were torched including three buses and two bakkies.The university was also recently hit by a controversial "degrees for sale" scandal. According to a Sunday Times report‚ more than 4 000 students allegedly paid for fake degrees over a period of 20 years.In her letter‚ the academic wrote: "I now believe it is wrong to stand idly by and witness the damage to our teaching and learning programme that we're experiencing – damage that is worse this semester than any in the thirty odd years I've been a member of our University."I also believe it's incumbent on us as Senators to raise our voices and express our views on what is happening. The values our University has expressly embraced are 'Innovation‚ Teamwork‚ Efficiency‚ Accountability and Mutual Trust'."She said that the senate‚ as custodian of the academic programme‚ had the prerogative to resume the programme but this had not happened.The senior professor said that there were a number of matters that were of concern including that the teaching and learning recovery plan that had been circulated had not been consulted with those expected to implement it and that this plan would not work until the strike was resolved.She invited her colleagues to share their views on the role of management during the crisis and the policing of academic activities which she labelled as "initimidating and unacceptable"."As things stand‚ the ethos of the University has already been badly damaged and trust and co-operation have broken down. When eventually the strike is resolved enormous efforts will have to be made to rebuild a culture of academic respect."The academic said she hoped that colleagues would join her and "perhaps our academic voice might open the way to more positive outcomes than seem likely at present".Suspended Nehawu chief negotiator Hlakaniphile Jamile was not available for comment.A staff member said fear has gripped the campus as non-striking workers are being threatened and sent nasty emails and communiqués."Security is everywhere in strategic points. Even some lecturers are under constant guarding during working hours‚" he said. - TMG Digital/The Times..

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