University closed until Monday, 26 October 2015

20 October 2015

Wits University has over the past few days suspended all University activities on a day-by-day basis as developments unfolded around the ongoing student protest.

The University acknowledges that there has been a call for a national day of solidarity to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 21 October 2015. Wits also recognises the need to allow time for the necessary negotiations to take place to resolve the current situation.

In order to ensure the safety and security of our staff and students, the executive management has decided to suspend all University activities for the remainder of this week. This applies to all staff (academic, professional, support and administrative) and students.

The University encourages students to use this time productively to prepare for their examinations.

Students are also reminded that any protests that take place off campus are out of Wits University’s control and that the University has no influence over how the South African Police Service may deal with situations that occur in public areas.

Please note that the University will communicate with you only via its official channels: SMS’s, your staff/student email address, the Wits website or the University’s official Twitter (@Wits_News and @WitsUniversity) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/witsuniversity) accounts. 

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Summary of Council proposals

20 October 2015

Here follows a summary of Wits University Council’s proposals on how it plans to address the fee increase challenge:

• Qualifying students and students on NSFAS will not pay an upfront fee.
• The fee increase proposal for 2016 has been suspended.
• Calling for transparent negotiations between the University and the student community/Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) as a matter of urgency.
• Wits will cut spending and investigate non-essential spending, and will focus financial resources on academic matters and access for students.
• Discounts for NSFAS and financially stressed students.
• Wits will continue to source additional funding from external sources.
• Wits will continue to engage with government to address the shortfall in higher education funding.
• Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Adam Habib, to give up any performance bonus and redirect the monies towards access for deserving students.

Statements issued by Wits University, 20 October 2015