By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) has condemned the disruption of exams and confirmed it has opened cases of trespassing and malicious damage to property.
A group of people walked into an exam hall and scattered exam material onto the floor.
“UCT condemns these actions in the strongest possible terms. It is an infringement on the rights of students to sit their mid-year exams in a conducive environment. Campus Protections Services Officers are working to secure all exam venues on upper campus,” it said.
“UCT has laid charges of trespassing and malicious damage to property with the South African Police Services (SAPS) and will work closely with SAPS.”
According to the university, exams that were scheduled for the remainder of Monday proceeded as planned.
But the UCT Students’ Representative Council (SRC) says all university activities must be halted pending the resolution of workers’ grievances.
“SRC calls for the halt of university activities, including examinations, until such a time the grievances of workers have been heard,” said the SRC in a statement.
“We cannot continue business as usual while some amongst us suffer. We encourage students to remain patient while workers engage the university to resolve the issue at hand.”
The EFF student command condemned the university for laying criminal charges against the protesters, labelling their actions at the Sports Centre as “revolutionary disruption of exams”.
“We abhor and condemn the opening of criminal charges of trespassing and damage to property by UCT against the workers. This is an act of suppression and demonstrates the continuous silencing of workers,” it said in a statement.