Students close down Rhodes University

Rhodes strike: 'Don't tell the whites'

Jeff Wicks, News24

Durban - The Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC) has condemned a voice note which cautions strikers to exclude white students because they "cannot be trusted".

The voice note quickly went viral on social media. The protest action is over an increase in fees and the minimum initial payment (MIP), a 50% lump sum of their total tuition which for a full time students amounts to over R40 000.

"They don’t want any whites knowing because we can't trust them. So just black and non-white students…" the person in the recording says.

The note describes how all entry points are to be closed off to disallow any academic activity until there is a resolution on the fee increase.

The academic programme at the university was suspended on Monday after talks between protesters and Vice Chancellor Sizwe Mabizela broke down.

SRC secretary general Lindokhule Zungu said that he had been privy to the electronic recording early in the day.

"It was brought to my attention this morning and the elements of racism are definitely not condoned by the SRC. We believe in this process and we believe that the issues of finance affect those of all races," he said.

"We have engaged with the [vice chancellor] and he threw around some numbers. We are going to meet with him again before they day is out but for now the status quo remains the same," Zungu said.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Rhodes-strike-Dont-tell-the-whites-20151019
 
ANCYL welcomes battle against 'ridiculous' Rhodes University fees

Jeff Wicks, News24

Durban - The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in the Eastern Cape has come out in support of protest action by students at Rhodes University which forced the suspension of the academic programme on Monday.

A group of protesters is picketing over the payment of the minimum initial payment (MIP), a 50% lump sum of their total annual tuition fee, which for a full time students amounts to more than R40 000.

Eastern Cape ANCYL spokesperson Ayongezwa Lungisa described the Rhodes MIP as "ridiculous".

In a statement he said the league, "supports the struggles of students at Rhodes University to curb ridiculous fees. This proposed fee increase will further undermine democratic reforms by South African government aimed at bringing human dignity, equality and social justice".

"Rhodes University has been and continues to be the special preserve of children from wealthy backgrounds. As is already the case, students and prospective students from the working class and the poor will kiss goodbye any prospect of enrolling at Rhodes University," Lungisa said.

"The ANCYL in the province of Eastern Cape is with the students of Rhodes University and any other university that is engaged in action to call for moratorium in fee increases."

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...st-ridiculous-Rhodes-University-fees-20151019
 
Talks between protesting Rhodes students, VC fail

Mitchell Shaun Parker, News24 Correspondent

Grahamstown - Protesting students at Rhodes University abandoned talks with vice chancellor Sizwe Mabizela late on Monday morning after no agreement was reached on a decrease in students’ Minimum Initial Payment (MIP) before registration.

Mabizela arrived just after 09:00 to speak to students, the university's independent student news source, Activate, reported.

University management offered 20% of full fees MIP, and an extended payment deadline. Students are, however, demanding a 10% MIP and the lowering of fees in general.

Questions have also been asked about international students' foreign levy, with Mabizela saying it might be possible to reduce the full amount payable to 75% of the total.

As the protest swept though Rhodes University on Monday morning, students were roused from their beds, swelling the numbers opposing the MIP, which currently stands at more than R40 000.

Entrances barricaded

The protest started at the drama department and quickly rolled over the rest of campus.

Barricades were set up at all entrances and exits to prevent lectures from taking place.

Protesters say they plan to barricade the institution until the end of the week, or until their demands were met.

The protest was supported by both the Black Students Movement and the Student Representative Council.

As a result, Mabizela announced in a circular that all academic activity would be cancelled for the day and that he – along with other members of top management – would meet students to discuss their concerns.

This has prompted concerns about tests and exams, especially for the accounting students who begin their final exams on Monday.

Burning tyres

The action taken on Monday was generally peaceful, despite the large size of the crowd. The campus protection unit told Activate that they were not going to attempt to break the strike up, but were rather on the look-out for vandals.

The protesters said they would release a memorandum of intent on Wednesday.

Deputy director of residence operations Jay Pillay confirmed early on Monday morning the dining halls would be running.

By late morning the barricades were still up, staff were barred from entering campus and police have asked students to remain on campus. Tyres were reportedly being burnt along Somerset Street.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Talks-between-protesting-Rhodes-students-VC-fail-20151019
 
Police fire rubber bullets at Rhodes protesters

Mitchell Shaun Parker, News24 Correspondent

Grahamstown - Police fired rubber bullets at a crowd of protesters on Monday afternoon, when students from Rhodes University went to support their peers at the Eastern Cape Midlands College, the university's independent student news source, Activate, reported.

One person was reportedly injured in the incident.

This prompted a call from Rhodes vice chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela for students to return to the campus where they were "protected under Rhodes University jurisdiction".

Mabizela also called on police to avoid using force, but the police responded that they had used the "minimum amount of force that could legitimately be used" to diffuse the situation.

Protesting Rhodes students earlier on Monday abandoned talks with Mabizela after no agreement was reached on a decrease in students' Minimum Initial Payment (MIP) before registration.

University management offered a 20% of full fees MIP, and an extended payment deadline. Students are, however, demanding a 10% MIP and the lowering of fees in general.

The protest was supported by both the Black Students Movement and the Student Representative Council.

As a result, Mabizela announced in a circular that all academic activity would be cancelled for the day and that he – along with other members of top management – would meet students to discuss their concerns.

By late morning the barricades were still up, staff were barred from entering campus and police have asked students to remain on campus. Tyres were reportedly being burnt along Somerset Street.

Mabizela told Activate that he needs the push for change to come from the students themselves, and not from management, in order to preserve good relations with the government.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Police-fire-rubber-bullets-at-Rhodes-protesters-20151019
 
schumi said:
He added more money to student funding this year http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/9b0729...imande-injects-more-funds-into-NSFAS-20151405
Click to expand...

Not nearly enough and this was after many years of reductions. As an example the bursary budget was slashed at the beginning of this year for no good reason leaving a lot of students who were entitled to money and promised these funds in the lurch. Nothing like finding out a few months in to your study year that the bursary you were promised will only have 20% paid due to the dept. changing their tune on financial commitments. These tend to be students who are heavily stretched and working to cover the rest, then you pull the rug out after they have paid the uni deposit. Not cool.
 
Bern said:
Not nearly enough and this was after many years of reductions. As an example the bursary budget was slashed at the beginning of this year for no good reason leaving a lot of students who were entitled to money and promised these funds in the lurch. Nothing like finding out a few months in to your study year that the bursary you were promised will only have 20% paid due to the dept. changing their tune on financial commitments. These tend to be students who are heavily stretched and working to cover the rest, then you pull the rug out after they have paid the uni deposit. Not cool.
Click to expand...

This ^

And unfortunately that buffer zone that one could fill with night / weekend work is constantly getting smaller and smaller until you are completely reliant on aid
 
Rhodes students stand firm as protest continues

Vid-http://ewn.co.za/Media/2015/10/20/Rhodes-students-stand-firm-as-protest-continues
 
You know what, if I was an academic, I'd probably be looking at emigrating.

Look at it this way - why would somebody get into academia? Because they want to contribute to the advancement of their field through research, and/or educate new students. Thanks to these brainless ungrateful lazy excuses for human beings, they can do neither. In fact, some of them are actually in danger.

At this point, I'd be asking myself, is it worth it? You work hard for these brainless cretins, you try to educate them, and look at how they reward you. There are lots of international universities that would welcome some of our academics with open arms.
 
Ancalagon said:
You know what, if I was an academic, I'd probably be looking at emigrating.

Look at it this way - why would somebody get into academia? Because they want to contribute to the advancement of their field through research, and/or educate new students. Thanks to these brainless ungrateful lazy excuses for human beings, they can do neither. In fact, some of them are actually in danger.

At this point, I'd be asking myself, is it worth it? You work hard for these brainless cretins, you try to educate them, and look at how they reward you. There are lots of international universities that would welcome some of our academics with open arms.
Click to expand...

Yes, SOME of them ARE lazy and ungrateful and brainless. Most are not. Most are good enough and work hard enough to be in varsity. Most cannot afford to be there next year regardless of their motivation - or lack thereof. This is not just about being clever enough - it is about access to education. The people protesting are already at the institutions, some in their 3rd or 4th years...so its a bit unfair to brandish the same label at them.

Academics SHOULD feel hard done by because they already don't get paid what they are worth - certainly at some of the smaller institutions this is truer than not. And they have every right to overseas - which would only exacerbate the critical skills gap that already exists in the country. Govt should be doing more because this will trickle down and become worse if not addressed properly.
 
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