Protest action disrupts academic programme at Port Elizabeth university

Tests have been postponed and some entrances closed amid protest action attributed to the South African Students Congress (Sasco) at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.

Sasco said on social media its protest action related to various issues including what it called "the slow and unequal pace" of the ANC's December promise of free education for poor students.

"Sasco believes that government‚ universities‚ together with the private sector‚ should be more creative in finding ways of implementing this announcement so that students‚ particularly those that are already in the system‚ are able to receive their various allowances and support material to participate in academic activities from an equal footing."

Students also voiced safety concerns and complained about the Protection Services department. "We strongly believe that this department has collapsed completely. We cannot accept that our campuses have become spaces where women are being raped and harassed‚ students are being robbed and unauthorised personnel are walking around our campuses with arms. Our view is that this department needs to be restructured both at an operational and strategic level."

Sasco also demanded that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme should pay for off-campus accommodation and for the university to provide additional transport for students.