Scores of students picketed outside the main gate of the university on Monday. According to the Student Representative Council (SRC) President, Moses Ntonyane, a request was submitted by the students to have a meeting with CUT management regarding free education, outstanding debt relief and awarding graduates their qualifications. Ntonyane alleges they instead refused to speak to the students and threatened students with court interdicts as a form of victimisation.

“It’s high time that the government give us what they promised us. We are not waiting for any other pronouncement,“ says Ntonyane.

The university has yet to comment on OFM News' inquiry.

“We want the management of this university to give our graduates their certificates.  They will not ask graduates to pay you when they have not given them their certificates; they cannot be employed; it's not rocket science. Give people their certificates so that they can go and work and pay you. Number two. We don’t want our students sleeping with strangers here who are saying we will help you register if you sleep with me. Or we don’t want students sleeping with strangers here for space in this university. We want the processes in this university to be smooth,” Ntonyane said.

Subsequently, Ntonyane and the students fully support the call by the South African Students Congress (SASCO) for the national shutdown to continue. He says they can’t be loitering around waiting for ministers to give students free education. The fight for free education for all students will not stop unless the student demands are met, Ntonyane said. “We want the processes at this university to be smooth, so that all the students can benefit from free education without prejudice.”

Furthermore, Ntonyane says that the students have still been unable to register as a result of outstanding fees. We will act relentlessly and fearlessly until the management of this university is willing to meet the pressing needs of the students, says Ntonyane.

The university was closed by management for over a week now, with no reason as to why it has been closed. Ntonyane concludes by saying: “If the university doesn’t have money they must join us here at the main gate, close this campus with us because then we must fight the national government and not them.”

OFM News/Lee Simmons and Lucky Nkuyane