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North West University management has resolved to indefinately close the Mafikeng Campus
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March 08, 2008, 07:45
The management of the North West University has resolved to indefinately close the Mafikeng Campus. Management says this is as a result of the continued disruption of normal operations of the university.
Students have been protesting since Tuesday, demanding the reversal of the university's 13% fee hike, at the campus. Students have reacted with anger at the news of the closure. The closure comes in the wake of intervention by the North West MEC for Education, Johannes Tselapedi.
Tselapedi, the university management and the student representatives agreed to suspend the protests for two days, to allow negotiations between management and student bodies, to continue. Following a failure to hand a memorandum of grievances to the university and the continued protest by the students, management resolved to close the campus, but students are not prepared to vacate the campus.
One student told SABC reporters: "We are waiting for them so 'aluta continua', we not going to beg off until our demands as students are clearly heard and addressed. We are not going to move out. We have the right to stay on the campus because we have already paid the fees."
Student leaders say management is not committed to resolving their concerns and say closing the campus does not resolve the problems. Another of the protesters said: "No student will be seen going to classes until that time, and it should be emphasised as well that we've got no intention of leaving this campus even if it is closed indefinitely. We are not going anywhere."
Students have until midday today, to vacate the campus- something which they are not prepared to do. Should this happen, police may be called to remove them.
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