The management of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, will investigate grievances raised by a group of disgruntled students at the Bloemfontein and Welkom campuses. This follows a student protest led by EFF student-command at the Bloemfontein campus on Wednesday (09/02).
They raised a range of issues in their memorandum of demands that they want the management to resolve, and threatened to boycott classes, which begin this week.
Dr Sally Dzingwa, registrar at the CUT, has confirmed management’s receipt of memorandums of demands from students at the two campuses.
According to Dzingwa, these were received by the acting campus director and registrar on Friday (11/02) and Monday (14/02), respectively.
“The management will investigate the matters raised and work with student representatives to resolve their grievances, which include registration, outstanding examination marks and financial matters,” says Dzingwa.
“Students at the Bloemfontein campus have assured the management that access to campus will no longer be disrupted. On behalf of the management, I urge the student representative council (SRC) to provide the list of the students affected, so that we can address their specific cases.
“Although we have reached our 2022 enrolment targets, over 100,09%, we wish to assure students, parents, staff, and the CUT community that our students remain a top priority and that all issues that have been raised are receiving our full attention. The management will work closely with the student leadership to bring about amicable solutions.”
The institution held a virtual welcoming ceremony for first-year students on Saturday, followed by the official opening of the academic year on Monday.
Mohau Sekhele, representative of the EFF student command at the Bloemfontein campus, says they have engaged with the management of the CUT regarding their demands, alleging a lack of attention.
To make their voices heard, angry students blocked the institution’s main entrance with rubbish and dustbins on Wednesday.
“We want public commitment,” he says.
Sekhele says they want the management to confirm dates on when the students will receive response.
“In terms of academics, we want returning students to be allowed to register. The system auto-promotes them. The system cannot detect the students that need to be promoted,” he says.
All issues raised are receiving our full attention. – Dr Sally Dzingwa
