UCT will remain closed until demands are heard - student leader

3 October 2016

Cape Town - UCT will remain closed until the vice chancellor engages students on their demands and takes their call for free, decolonised education to national leaders, student leader Masixole Mlandu said on Monday.

He led hundreds of protesting students through UCT's upper campus to ensure no lectures were held.

Many who were not protesting stood on the sidelines and took photos.

"The people's management declares a shutdown... The university needs to make a decision."

The institution had planned on resuming academic activities on Monday.

"We can't breathe in this university when things stay the same. Sacrifices must be made," said Mlandu.

He bemoaned the demographics of UCT, saying the institution was not an accurate representation of South Africa. Protesting students repeated their demands for free education, the insourcing of workers with a net salary of R12 500, and for disciplinary action to be dropped against some students.

"We are not mad. We are not hooligans. We don't like protesting," said Mlandu.

Private security guards watched from afar.

Police vans were spotted on campus in the morning, but later left. Most lectures were not in session, but it was understood that a lecturer in one department had met with students in two almost full classes early on Monday morning.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.