UCT could shut down until 2017 if protests continue, warns Max Price

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

CAPE TOWN – University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor Max Price says the institution could shut down for the year, if student protests continue.

At a media briefing today, Price discussed the implications of continued disruptions on campus.

Academic activity is currently suspended at UCT following the escalation of demonstrations over the past two weeks.

Price says academic activity will resume on Monday.

But he does not yet have assurances that protesting students will not cause disruptions.

The vice-chancellor says even though they have lost two weeks, they will be able to complete the academic year if lectures resume next week.

Graduation ceremonies will however only be held next year.

http://ewn.co.za/2016/09/28/UCT-could-shut-down-until-2017-if-protests-continue-warns-Max-Price

 

[saor]

Deploy the army?

 

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

Deploy the army?

"But it will hurt the protesters" - Max Price

 

[Fulcrum29]

I will hold the university liable by suspending my studies.

 

[xrapidx]

.... incoming 2017 capacity problem.

 

[skimread]

Solution is easy. Fire Max Price.

 

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

I will hold the university liable by suspending my studies.

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opin...-in-south-africa-can-be-avoided/#.V-ud6snm5Mk

It is opportune to pause to consider the legal effect of university closures (due to fallist disruptions and the prevalence of thuggery during protests) on the provision of services to students by them.

Section 54 of the Consumer Protection Act is instructive:

Consumer’s rights to demand quality service

When a supplier undertakes to perform any services for or on behalf of a consumer, the consumer has a right to:

the timely performance and completion of those services, and timely notice of any unavoidable delay in the performance of the services;
the performance of the services in a manner and quality that persons are generally entitled to expect;
the use, delivery or installation of goods that are free of defects and of a quality that persons are generally entitled to expect, if any such goods are required for performance of the services; and
the return of any property or control over any property of the consumer in at least as good a condition as it was when the consumer made it available to the supplier for the purpose of performing such services, having regard to the circumstances of the supply, and any specific criteria or conditions agreed between the supplier and the consumer before or during the performance of the services.

If a supplier fails to perform a service to the standards contemplated in subsection (1), the consumer may require the supplier to either:

remedy any defect in the quality of the services performed or goods supplied; or
refund to the consumer a reasonable portion of the price paid for the services performed and goods supplied, having regard to the extent of the failure.”

Students who are unable to write examinations or complete their degrees, or their parents, will be able to invoke these provisions against the universities should the so-called “malevolent minority” be allowed to prevail in the sense that universities are closed down due to the risks of death and injury, damage and destruction during the protests. These are risks the universities may just have to take with provision of additional security.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I’m going to leave this OT here. Since I have not read it in the news anywhere… Last week, during the protests at Stellenbosch, an SU employee was beaten, and when down severely kicked, by the protesters.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

Solution is easy. Fire Max Price.

#MaxPriceMustFall

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opin...-in-south-africa-can-be-avoided/#.V-ud6snm5Mk

It is sad to see the administration doing more damage to the institution than the protesters. Max Price do need to realise that he is accountable, and that it is not in their? (his) best interest to create a space where education takes priority, but rather to play it out with the protesters by hurdling the law-abiding students. A man with no action must go.

 

[CorrieDeBeer]

It should be no suprise that a government of ex-terrorist does nothing to combat our homegrown terrorists

 

[daveza]

few hundred protesters - 1

25000 other students - nil

 

[air]

max would first need to find his spine and a pair of balls.

 

[Sl8er]

few hundred protesters - 1

25000 other students - nil

This.

 

[grok]

max would first need to find his spine and a pair of balls.

Such a thing simply does not exist.

He was warned this would be the consequence, but he capitulated anyway.