CPUT postpones exams as mediation continues

14 November 2016

Cape Town - Examinations at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) have been postponed by one week as mediation between the institution's management and protesting students continues.

In a communiqué to students on Monday, the day exams had been scheduled to start, acting vice chancellor Dr John Volmink apologised for the "terrible impact" of the postponement, saying that CPUT was doing all it could to bring stability back to its campuses.

University management, Fees Must Fall activists, the SRC and unions said in a joint statement that they would all undertake to ensure that no disruptions take place at campus examination venues.

It was also agreed that private security would be withdrawn from the institution by Tuesday.

On Sunday CPUT was also granted an urgent interdict by the Western Cape High Court restraining protesting students from obstructing campus activity or those relating to the exams.

Last month, the intuition gave up on face-to-face classes for the rest of the year, saying it had "reached the point of no return to save the 2016 academic year".

Protests at CPUT had included daily marches and incidents where faeces were flung and vehicles and buildings were set on fire.

Four weeks ago, two security guards were locked in a burning building at the Bellville campus during midnight protests. They suffered smoke inhalation and minor injuries.

At the time, the CPUT Fees Must Fall movement distanced itself from the property damage. It was "thuggery coming from rogue elements who wish to hijack and appropriate the good name of our genuine struggle", it said.

At least 20 CPUT students have been arrested since the start of the campus unrest.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.