Lengthy discussions between Nelson Mandela University management and students leading the protest resulted in an agreement to successfully resume operations and academic activity at the institution tomorrow, 5 October.
The agreement effectively brings to an end two days of demonstrations by students, who have raised a number of safety and security concerns. This follows the vicious rape and stabbing of two female students on Monday night at the Second Avenue Campus.
The University welcomes the arrest of the alleged perpetrator of the horrific incident that has left the University community reeling. The hope is that the suspect is brought to book and justice is served.
Mandela University also wishes to condemn an incident earlier this afternoon, during which shots were fired by occupants of a vehicle whose attempt to access South Campus was thwarted, amidst demonstrating students. The University wishes to commend the swift action of law enforcement agencies in apprehending the perpetrators.
Following this afternoon’s meeting, parties resolved to resume operations and academic activity, while discussions continue on the sidelines to iron out details of the implementation of agreements reached on the safety and security concerns raised.
This through a Safety and Security task team comprising students and members of the University management team to work on immediate, medium and long-term solutions.
On Tuesday, following the initial meeting during which students raised their concerns, the University agreed to immediately implement the following:
- Heightening security by increasing the number of staff to undertake visible patrolling across all campuses, including all teaching venues, from now until the end of exams
- Expanding its partnership with SAPS and the Metro Police so as to attain extra support for our students in and around our campuses, particularly on Second Avenue and Missionvale
- Improvement of the CCTV monitoring
- Undertake control checks at entrances, taxi drop-off points and bus stops
- Undertake an audit of all the external campus lighting
- Extending its anti-crime initiatives, including those with the Summerstrand Community Crime Forum, especially towards the establishment of safe on- and off-campus “green routes” that will be monitored and patrolled.
A number of academic concessions have been made to accommodate students who may have been affected by events of the last two days including the postponement of assessments scheduled for 5 – 6 October.
The University remains committed to working towards ensuring the safety of its staff and students and welcomes the move to collectively work on sustainable solutions.
Alan Straton
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