ALL LECTURES AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED AT WITS UNIVERSITY TODAY

All lectures and academic activities have been suspended for one day only – Wednesday, 14 October 2015 in the interests of protecting the safety and security of staff and students.

This follows a sit-in by groups of students and student leaders who initially prevented staff and students from entering campus and who disrupted some academic activities this morning. Aside from one altercation this morning and the vandalisation of some classes overnight, no violence has been reported.

This is an unofficial protest and although everything is calm, Wits is cancelling all lectures and other academic activities for the day. We think that this is the most prudent route to manage the situation and to ensure the safety and security of all staff and students.

The protest violates the protest policy of the University and Wits’ student rules and while the University recognises that students have a right to protest this cannot happen at the expense of the rights of students and staff members to learn and work in a safe environment.

Wits will take the necessary action in line with our policies and procedures to create an environment that allows teaching and learning to continue.

Read the Statement from the Senior Executive Team and the statement on Why fee increases are necessary below.

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Lectures suspended

14 October 2015

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE ON THE PROTEST BY STUDENTS

Dear Students and Colleagues,

Groups of students gathered at the entrances of the University this morning protesting against the fee increases for 2016. The students prevented access and egress to the University earlier in the day. In some cases, they have also disrupted teaching and other academic activities from occurring. This is an unofficial protest that follows one at the Wits Business School last night in which lectures were again disrupted and had to be cancelled. Overnight some lecture theatres were also vandalised.

Although events have now stabilised with students agreeing to allow traffic to flow through our entrances, there has been an overall disruption to the academic programme of the University. After consultation between Professor Andrew Crouch and the Deans, we are cancelling all lectures and other academic activities for the day. We think that this is the most prudent route to manage the situation and to ensure the safety and security of all staff and students.

The protest violates the protest policy of the University and our student rules. It is an orchestrated attempt to prevent the University from functioning, and it contravenes our agreements with student leaders and other stakeholders over the years. It is also a clear violation of South Africa’s Constitution and Bill of Rights. We recognise that students have a right to protest, but this cannot happen at the expense of the rights of students and staff members to learn and work in a safe environment.

The majority of our 32 500 students and 5 000 staff want to continue teaching, learning and preparing for the upcoming examinations. It is unacceptable for the majority of our staff and students to be held ransom by a minority. We will take the necessary action in line with our policies and procedures to create an environment that allows teaching and learning to continue.

I trust that we have your support and that you will work with us to create a free and safe environment in which we can continue our academic programme. We will continue to keep you updated during the course of the day.

Executive Management

Wits University

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Why fee increases are necessary

14 October 2015

Statement from Linda Jarvis, Chief Financial Officer, Wits University

Following the release of the fee increases for 2016 by the Chairperson of Council, Dr Randall Carolissen, my office has been inundated with requests for information as to why these fee increases are necessary.

Some of the key reasons are:

1.     The rand-dollar exchange rate has fallen by approximately 22%, which has resulted in a substantial increase in the amount of money that we pay for all library books, journals, electronic resources research equipment that are procured in dollars and euros.

2.     Salary increases for academics are set at 7% based on a three-year cycle and these increases are necessary to ensure that we retain the best intellectual minds in the country.

3.     Generic inflation is hovering at around 6% which impacts on all other expenses that the University has to cover.

4.     Utilities are increasing at rates substantially higher than the inflation rate.

The subsidy increase from government is expected to come in at around 5% and the nett effect is that we have to make up our income to cover our expenditure in order to remain sustainable. If we do not do so, we put the quality of our academic project at risk.

We are mindful of the current economic climate and the financial strain on students and families. In light of this and following extensive consultations with the SRC and other University structures, we have reduced the average tuition fee for 2016 from 11% to 10.5%, and the upfront fee increase from 10% to 6%.

Even though two thirds (about 20 000) of our students are on bursaries, scholarships and financial aid, we are cognisant of the pressure that this places on parents and caregivers of those who have to pay their own way.

These increases are unfortunately unavoidable but we are doing all that we can, especially at the national level to look at long-term solutions to resolve the issue of student funding.

Statement issued by Wits University, 14 October 2015