Security staff protest shuts TUT for a second day

Classes were suspended for a second day on Thursday at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) following protest action by security staff who want the university to end outsourcing.

Security‚ cleaning and catering workers at TUT say management broke a promise to end outsourcing and implement agreed wage hikes.

TUT said a contingency plan is in place to ensure that all learning activities resume at its Pretoria and Ga-Rankuwa campuses.

• Rhodes warns Nehawu workers to return to work - or elseRhodes University on Wednesday warned the National Education‚ Health and Allied Union (Nehawu) that the university would take disciplinary action against its protesting members if they did not immediately return to work. 

"A contingency plan‚ in collaboration with the SAPS and private security providers‚ has been put in place to ensure that all activities can resume‚" said Willa de Ruyter‚ TUT spokesperson.

The campuses were shut down on Wednesday due to a protest by security guards who prevented students and teachers from entering the premises.

De Ruyter said: "The faculty has requested a meeting with the insourcing task team to address insourcing issues and this meeting will take place on Friday 26th of May‚ during which all these issues will be addressed.”

• University of Johannesburg under microscope over 'spying' on student protestersThe Right2Know Campaign is putting pressure on the University of Johannesburg to come clean about using private security firms to spy on student protesters. 

De Ruyter said a group of security guards had been staging an unlawful protests outside the main gate of the Pretoria campus on Wednesday‚ which led to the university cancelling classes.

"The University recognises the right of any person to participate in protest action‚ but TUT condemns the unprotected strike action and disruption of activities‚ which are depriving students of the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming examinations."