25/02/2016
To the Student Body of Rhodes University:
AROUND 1:30AM AND AGAIN AT 6:00AM (25 FEBRUARY 2016), DR MABIZELA DEMANDED THAT PROTESTERS REMOVE BARRICADES. HE LATER REMOVED THEM WITH ASSISTANCE FROM CPU, HITEC AND OTHER RHODES STAFF MEMBERS.
WE DENOUNCE HIS ACTIONS, AS THEY DELEGITIMISE THE STRUGGLE OF THE STUDENTS WHO WERE INVOLVED.
STUDENTS WHO PARTTAKE IN THIS MOVEMENT SHOULD NOT BE VICTIMISED BY EITHER MANAGEMENT OR THE POLICE.
On 24 February 2016, members of the student body were addressed at the Kaif by the Vice Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela. In this meeting he was to address demands that have been made by students.
1. The time of the address (10:20) was unknown to most of the students and many could not attend, due to lectures and tutorials.
2. When the floor was open for students to ask questions, he walked away and refused to return to the meeting.
3. An announcement was made for students to meet at 21:00 at the Drodsty Lawns.
On WhatsApp circulated a message stating that there would be a meeting, at the same time, at the Drama department. This, we believe, confused many students.
A small number of students attended the meeting that was announced at the Kaif. We decided to mobilise, after agreeing on the following demands:
1. PERSONAL DEBT
When a student has an outstanding amount of money owed to the University, failure to settle this debt hinders them from registering the following year. This happens to students on NSFAS and cash-paying students. We demand that personal debt from previous years do not hinder students from registering in the following year.
2. HISTORIC DEBT (OWN CONTRIBUTION)
A number of NSFAS students are in in debt due to the fact that their parents/ guardians were unable to pay in full the own contribution that the RU Financial Aid Office required them to pay in 2015. Most have been requested to make payment plans with the fees committee in order to prove that they will indeed settle the debt by the end of 2016. However, there are students whose payment plan requests were declined by the Fees Committee. These students have not been allowed to register to this day. We call on the university management to account for them. We believe that these students form part of the missing middle that Dr Mabizela has been working so hard to assist in registering and continuing with their academic careers. We demand that these students be accounted for and a plan of action be put in place to ensure that they return to university ASAP.
3. ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT FOR STUDENTS
We demand that the university provide transport for students who are stuck at home because of having had to leave, following being thrown out of residence at the end of the supplementary exam period, to return to Grahamstown. It should be noted that these very same students have lost their place in residence due to the late release of supplementary exam results, either late registration due to a delay in the release of results or the inability to register. We demand that the University helps these students by providing them with adequate accommodation. It should be noted that there are students who are currently homeless sleeping in the labs and lecture venues. This should not be happening.
4. OPPIDAN BUS SHOULD BE A PERMANENT TRANSPORT FOR STUDENTS:
The Oppidan bus service should be operating permanently. That should to be amended in the transport policies as soon as possible. Resources are not easily accessible there in the townships where some of Rhodes students live. The University should ensure that the Oppidan Bus has a central location from which to pick up students who live in the township, instead of avoiding the township as it is “dodgy”. Moreover, the bus service should during meal times, for students who have to go back to their homes for food.
5. HARRASMENT:
The disturbance that is made by police vans that are moving around the campus must be addressed immediately. We don’t want to be questioned, harassed, and intimidated by perpetuators of colonialism.
6. THE SRC CONSTITUTION MUST CHANGE IMMEDIATELY
The constitution that allows an executive structure to exclusively reshuffle its members each other must change. Students ought to be given every right to elect their leaders even if some members of the SRC have resigned. Additionally, the divide and conquer strategies must end even if it means we go without a so-called SRC. Instead of isolating students and going to dining halls to pull them away from protest action, you should rather allow them the chance to decide for themselves. What you are doing is disruptive and it is breaking the student body apart. Your job is to be where the students are, regardless of how insignificant we may be. Things do change. This is why the by-election should be cancelled and the SRC dismantled and re-elected. And that includes their advisor.
