Speaking on behalf of the students who have been walking since Sunday from Welkom to Bloemfontein, Paballo Kgamadi tells OFM News students at the Welkom campus are “treated like stepchildren” and are left to suffer as their plight over lack of infrastructure, allowances and other challenges have seemingly fallen on deaf ears. 

Students at the Welkom campus allegedly spent weeks without adequate resources at the campus with their concerns not attended to by management. Speaking ahead of the handing over of their Memorandum of Demands, Kgamadi says the recent suspension of the Vice-Chancellor Henk de Jager and one of his deputies is a clear example of governance issues experienced at the university.

OFM News at the beginning of the month reported on how De Jager has been placed on precautionary suspension together with one of his deputies, Gary Paul. Indications are that the council was dissatisfied with how De Jager handled a complaint against Paul.

The chairperson of the council, Boysie Phehlukwayo, allegedly also came under fire for the way he handled the case and tendered his resignation a day after the council meeting.

Kgamadi now tells OFM News they are concerned over the lack of management at the university, over corruption allegations and how students’ affairs have not been attended to.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela and Leatile Leiee