PORT ELIZABETH - NMMU BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL BY SASCO MASS PROTEST AT ITS CAMPUSES

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) has been shut down by the South African Students’ Congress (Sasco)‚ which embarked on a mass protest on Monday morning “after assessing the political situation on campus”.

Sasco‚ in a statement‚ said the decision was informed by an assessment made regarding issues that affect the general student populace‚ children of the working class in particular‚ and exploited workers at the university.

This relates to the #FeesMustFall campaign last year‚ which resulted in the NMMU Council appointing task teams in November to address issues including National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) debt relief‚ in-sourcing of service workers and removing the requirement for upfront payment for students falling in the “missing middle” income bracket.

But Sasco‚ listing about a dozen concerns‚ has been dissatisfied with the processes so far.

Some of their dissatisfactions include:

- Students being unable to add modules for the second semester due to outstanding funds of the first semester;

- Students’ results being withheld‚ making it difficult for students to know whether they will be continuing with the module in the second semester or not;

- Students who entered the system through debt relief are being evicted by residences; and

- The university saying it is in-sourcing workers but still denying them basic benefits as did the last employer.

“Our quest for total transformation of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University‚ to make it a true reflection of Madiba’s legacy‚ has not gone without challenge by the backward white conservative arrangement in the university‚” the Sasco statement read.

“We have seen attempts to propel financial and academic exclusions by denying a number of students book and food allowances‚ debt relief for the second semester intake‚ withholding examination results and the eviction of students in residences‚ especially in accredited off-campus residences

“The deliberate delaying of in-sourcing‚ in order to de-motivate workers‚ are attempts to weaken even Sasco as a transformation tool.”


Sasco said it was for these reasons it was protesting. It planned to hand over a memorandum to university management on Tuesday.

“We are aware that some students are supposed to be writing examinations on the 12th and 13th‚ we will make an arrangement with the university to move these examinations to the end of the week. This will give students ample time to prepare‚” Sasco said.

“We urge all students and workers to join the protest and pledge solidarity with those subjected to suffering by this system of injustice. We also urge those who will be participating in the mass action to refrain from violence and intimidation.”

VIA - timeslive.co.za