The EFF-SC staged a disruptive protest on Monday, blocking the main gate of the campus with rubbish and a few burning tyres, while the South African Student Congress (Sasco) allegedly folded their arms and stood by like onlookers, according to the EFF-SC president, Bongani Bulawa.

Sasco leadership is of the view that the protest led by the EFF-SC is a sponsored protest by management, in a bid to get Sasco involved so that university management can expel some of the leaders who are on suspension. 

Bulawa says in the absence of leadership the masses will lead themselves.

“We started this strike at 05:00 on Monday and we were alone. I am sure it was about 15 people who started this strike and we did not wait for them. That is why Julius Nyerere says you can achieve freedom without masses [because] even [with] small numbers, as long as we fight for an idea we [can] live for it. Because you can see them they are just sitting there as if they are on honeymoon and they are chilling and everything is nice for them whilst we are sacrificing our lives because some of us are from an economically disadvantaged background. We are sacrificing to represent the students,” Bulawa adds.

Bulawa wants the CUT management to respond to issues of payment of students' allowances, the extension of online assessments, and quarantine sites for students infected with Covid-19. The CUT management is yet to comment on OFM News’ inquiry.

The division between the EFF-SC led Student Representative Council (SRC) and Sasco emanates from accusations made by Sasco that the EFF-SC was handpicked by management. Management, however, has previously indicated that Sasco lost a High Court action against the institution. However, Sasco says the court dismissed their case on a matter of urgency. OFM News understands that there is also a court interdict against Sasco and two students.

Just two weeks ago students at the campus embarked on a Sasco-led protest over various issues.

This is a developing story.

OFM News