Updated from Rector 11/11/2015

Dear Colleagues

So far this week we have had two days of uninterrupted exams, although we have had constant uncertainty around us as to whether we would be able to continue without disruptions.

There have been ongoing tacit threats about the disruption of exams and these were confirmed by a failed attempt of arson at the Sport Stadium on Sunday; mobilisation of students and cleaning staff to participate in the march at Parliament on Monday; and the gathering of a large group of the protesting students, yesterday afternoon.

This morning there was ongoing mobilisation of students around the residences, seemingly in response to correspondence from the Chair of Council, declining the request for an urgent Special Council meeting to deal with UWC’s funding of historic debt. During the mobilisation, a section of the Ruth First residence was also set alight. UWC’s fire and medical officer responded to the fire-alarms set off by the fire and, upon his arrival at the residence, he was attacked and badly assaulted by the protestors and had to be rushed to hospital for medical attention. The Police arrested 5 students in connection with the assault. In addition, a female security officer was also assaulted and threatened at knife-point.

Some of the students protesting around the residences this morning again carried sjamboks, bricks, knob-kieries and wore balaclavas.  During the course of the morning the protesting students have been throwing stones at security personnel and, in addition to starting fires around the student residences, they have also damaged University property. The situation is complicated by the fact that some of the cleaning staff are actively participating in these protests.

This morning’s first exam session proceeded without interruption, but this happened parallel to the events referred to above.

At the time of writing this update, the students firstly entered the Main Hall and emptied fire distinguishers in the Hall, leaving the Main Hall covered in powder. Fortunately there were no exams taking place at that time as it was between sessions. We also received reports of widespread damage and various buildings that were under attack. For now we have information about damage to the A and B blocks, Life Sciences, School of Public Health and the Social Sciences building. The police fired stun grenades and any reports of live ammunition being used, are not correct. We also have visual confirmation of students setting off large fire crackers to add to the confusion. Unfortunately, the limited police presence and the large number of buildings that are being targeted, makes it very difficult to control the situation.

The purpose of this communique is simply to share information about what is happening. I will communicate later about our response to the situation. The next session of the exams is due to be underway at the time when you receive this message.  Under the circumstances it would not be fair on students to write the 12:30 session. We are cancelling all exams for the rest of today and, after assessing the situation, we will take a decision about the rest of the week. As communicated earlier, all exams scheduled for this week are also scheduled to be repeated in the week of 1 December 2015.

We will be sending further communication later today.

Yours sincerely

Prof Tyrone Pretorius
Rector and Vice-Chancellor

Response from FWF movement to email sent by Chairperson of Council Mthunzi Mdwaba

Response from the movement to the unfortunate email sent by Chairperson of Council Mthunzi Mdwaba

"As the movement we have demonstrated commitment to restoring normality of the academic programme and continuation of the examinations until a special council meeting is convened to exclusively address the specific issues. However, the response from you as chairperson of council has sparked a series of emotions including resentment, mistrust and anger from students. Consequently the restoration of calm and continuation of examination is at risk and cannot be guaranteed." FWF

Email Update by Chairperson of Council (Mr Mthunzi Mdwaba) on Special Council Meeting Request

From Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=994262667263678&id=985851094771502

Email Update by Chairperson of Council (Mr Mthunzi Mdwaba) on Special Council Meeting Request by ‪#‎UWCFeesWILLFall‬ to ‪#‎EndOutsourcing‬ and ‪#‎FeesMustFall‬

[Mon, Nov 9, 2015 at 11:12 PM]
to: Rector <rector@uwc.ac.za>
cc: UWC Fees WILL Fall <uwcshutdown@gmail.com>

Dear Tyrone,

Further to my email on Saturday, I have considered the request for a special council meeting by the #FeesMustFall movement and wish to place the following on record:-

1)I have been in constant and consistent communication with you from the beginning of the protests till now;
2)The initial wave of protests were handled in a peaceful and respectful manner characterised by
discipline and decorum which made it easy for us to support same without any hesitation;
3)We are on record that these were justified protests and the outcome though financially troublesome for us as a university that plies its performance at the bottom of the financial pyramid, given that we are amongst the lowest fee charging universities, while performing at the highest level, do not have resources to compete fairly, and unless the government steps in to assist, might have to dip into our reserves and investments. An initial look at this promises to cost us somewhere in the region of R70Million - Council is yet to deliberate on this. This is a critical discussion that requires prioritisation;
4)All the items that were tabulated in your 'agreement' that was entered into with the first 'unman dated' group of the #FeesMustFall movement gave me sleepless nights as my rough tabulation was that it would cost us another R15Million or so just in 2016 if Council were to consider same and approve. Your subsequent advices of course that another 'mandated' grouping of the #FeesMustFall movement pronounced this not to be an agreement but a discussion to be noted for minuting has given me much relief. However, this brings me to the next point;
5)This is a group that I am advised allegedly led violent protests, vandalised property and brought anarchy to the university campus, which we cannot(if true) tolerate, Yet, you were magnanimous enough to still seat around the table with them at great risk to yourself and the governance of the university in that in round 2 of these discussions you did so without the SRC, the recognised leadership of the university in desperately trying to demonstrate bona fides and a willingness to find a solution. It is hugely concerning for me that they would return in round 2 and denounce their earlier representatives who spent an entire afternoon and evening with you and your team negotiating allegedly in bad faith. It also brings to question on who the leaders of the movement are?This is a matter for great concern and huge disrespect to you and the institution and cannot be condoned. This is a strong message I shall be delivering to the Council;
6)Peaceful protest and demonstration is to be encouraged and embraced as part of a democratic right to expression and as a university with our historical struggle pedigree, it is part of our DNA. However, disrespect, indiscipline,violence, vandalism, harassment cannot and will not be tolerated;
7)As you are aware, and I know the different groupings of the movement are aware that I have previously been asked to convene a special council meeting and declined. Besides the fact that this is a managerial/executive role that has always been handled well by you and has no place for council whose role is governance, oversight and strategic leadership of the institution, the only recognised structures that can request an audience with council are members of council, management,senate, and the SRC. I am advised that other universities allegedly breached this governance requirement due to expediency and we are therefore to follow suit. I disagree very strongly and while I shall not comment on their decisions because I am not sufficiently close to have appreciated their predicament,and in any event have nothing to do with us, BUT we shall not create unhealthy precedents for short to medium term gain that lead us into decay and long term embarrassment;
8)It is my view therefore that the interdict we currently have must be enforced very firmly if we continue to have some members of our community that hold everyone else ransom as we try to have orderly exams. I hope that this shall not be necessary, but criminality and bullying cannot continue;
9)I give my word that all reasonable requests by all stakeholders (and this includes students who make up the #FeesMustFall movement)of the university shall be placed on the agenda and seriously considered by the council. It is critical to understand though that we shall not under my leadership make decisions that will cause us financial challenges that threaten to throw us back to where we were in the past. We shall do whatever it takes to apply ourselves in the best interests of the university, its students and staff and ensure as we have all along that we improve epistemological access, maintain participation and instill quality for guaranteed sustainability.

My recommendation therefore to the #FeesMustFall movement is that they urgently request a meeting with the SRC and ask for their reasonable grievances to be tabled at the next council meeting so we may consider them for the agenda.

Kind Regards

Reflections on events at UWC: a reply to Andries du Toit

Reflections on events at UWC: a reply to Andries du Toit

Sunday 8th November 2015

Ben Cousins

My colleague Andries du Toit wrote a memo on 1st November 2015 in which he analysed the events of the previous week at UWC. He also called on staff members to unequivocally support the university executive in its attempts to manage the “Fees Must Fall” crisis. I disagreed strongly with his analysis and recommendations, but had to go away for most of the week of 2nd November, and events since then have largely overtaken us. However, there may be some value in outlining the nature our differences, given that debate amongst staff members on how to respond to the student movement continues.

1. The character of the “Fees Must Fall” (FMF) campaign at UWC

Rather than: seeing the FMF movement at UWC as:

• a “tiny political movement”
• aligned to PASMA, the EFF and Luta Continua
• which was disgruntled at losing the SRC elections
• and which attempted to “hijack the FMF banner for themselves”, as the SRC has portrayed the group;

In my view: the FMF campaign at UWC is best understood as a loosely-organized grouping which locates itself within the emerging national student movement seeking the transformation of higher education. It is probable that the great majority of students at UWC support this larger movement. The support base of the FMF group at UWC is certainly very large, as was clear at the student mass meeting on Tuesday 4th November. The movement is spearheaded by a smaller, activist core, numbering several hundred or so students, which has occupied buildings, marched on and off campus, and called on staff to stop work in support of their struggle.

2. Local or national politics?

Rather than: seeing the events at UWC as being explained only by political divisions amongst the student body, as some staff, as well as the executive (certainly in the first week of the crisis) have done;

In my view: the broader political context is key. The FMF movement at national level has emerged in response to widespread discontent over how the higher education sector is funded and managed, and has united students across divisions of race and class. Events at UWC must be understood in the context of continuing struggles at other campuses subsequent to President Zuma’s announcement on 23rd November of a 0% fees increase, and focused on a range of other key issues (e.g. registration fees, student debt), with some focused on workers’ problems (e.g. outsourcing). The FMF movement at UWC, as elsewhere, was determined to take forward their struggle, against the wishes of SASCO, the ANC Youth League and the ANC-aligned Progressive Youth Alliance.

3. Was it difficult for the Rector to meet with the FMF, given tensions between the elected SRC and the FMF movement?

Rather than: endorsing the executive’s and SRC’s view, as expressed by the Rector at the staff meeting of 3rd November, that:

• the SRC is the only legitimate representative of UWC students
• and thus that meeting and negotiating with the FMF grouping would undermine the integrity of student governance;

In my view: student politics is not restricted to voting in SRC elections, and any student grouping that wishes to meet with the university executive, or any other university body (e.g. Senate or Council), should be able to do so in order to make its views known. Given that:

• the turnout in recent SRC elections was very low
• questions had been raised about the fairness of that election
• the SRC’s view that the President’s 0% fees increase announcement meant that students should go back to their studies was rejected by the FMF at many other universities, where struggles around other demands were continuing
• it was quite possible that there was large-scale support amongst UWC students for continuing the struggle

… the decision not to meet or engage directly with FMF was a major miscalculation. Events last week would seem to confirm this; engagement led rapidly to negotiations and resolution.

4. Was the Rector justified in ‘securitising’ the campus?

Rather than: characterizing the situation on campus as one in which many FMF supporters engaged in threatening behaviour and violent acts, terrifying staff and other students, thus necessitating the use of security companies to protect the safety and security of the majority of students and staff;

In my view: intimidation, threats and actual violence and damage to property are unacceptable. But this does not necessarily mean that securitization was justified. The leadership of the FMF group has made it clear that that they themselves do not condone such actions. They have attempted to instill an ethic of disciplined non-violence amongst their members (e.g. by cleaning up buildings they had occupied). It may be the case that only a small number of FMF supporters engaged in any such actions, which tend to undermine the moral authority and credibility of the movement. Thus a viable alternative course of action might have been for the executive to engage with the FMF leadership on this issue.

The exact extent of intimidation, threatening behavior and violence by FMF supporters is in fact unclear as yet, but it may be the case that they were not as widespread as we have been led to believe. There appear to have been several instances where some staff members panicked at the sound of students singing and toyi-toying, and were not actually subject to any intimidation.

Leaders of the FMF campaign that I have spoken to all have maintained that the presence of armed security personnel was highly intimidating and a source of fear and anxiety amongst students. It may well be that some of the violence that occurred was a result of the increased security presence. A “hard” response to political protest often escalates conflict, rather than ends it. It is usually preferable to seek to talk to the other side, rather than to surround them with armed men. It is notable that it was talks that brought the immediate crisis to an end, not securitization or repression.

5. Was there a dramatic failure of leadership at UWC?

Since last week’s large student meeting, negotiations to address the demands of the FMF movement at UWC have involved both the SRC and the FMF grouping. Key agreements have now been struck, and students are committed to writing their exams. This suggests that both the executive and leaders of the movement have played key roles in resolving the immediate crisis, although many uncertainties remain, not least in relation to affordability. From the vantage point of the present, leadership on campus has in fact succeeded, not failed.

In relation to events of the week beginning 26th October, however:

Rather than: characterizing the executive in this week as decisive, skilled, flexible and level-headed, “keeping alive the vital space for mediation”;

In my view: serious mistakes were made by the executive, which may well have exacerbated the tensions on campus, amongst students and staff members, and between the FMF and the executive. These included:

• mis-reading the politics of the FMF movement
• refusing to engage directly with FMF
• making inadequate provisions for feeding students in residences
• failing to provide adequate information to the campus community (see below).

I also doubt that repeated closures of the campus were justified, or that it was necessary to bring in armed security forces – but in the absence of information it is difficult to be sure. To assert on 1st November that staff members should “unequivocally and publicly back our University Executive in their attempts to manage the crisis”, after a week of growing confusion and heightened confrontation, seemed to me to be plain wrong-headed.

Thankfully the executive chose a different path after the student mass meeting of 4th November, and we now appear to have the basis for a constructive way forward (although many key issues remains unresolved, notably that of whether or not increased government funding will now be made available to the higher education sector).

6. Communication and information

Rather than: seeing the Rector’s many messages to the UWC campus community during the crisis as examples of effective communication;

In my view: until last Wednesday, most of the Rector’s emailed messages were inadequate:

• they lacked hard information on what was taking place on campus
• they did not state what the executive understood the key issues to be for both the FMF movement and for themselves
• they were vague in the extreme on the status of engagement and negotiations with key role players
• they said nothing about the nature of the arrangements with security forces brought onto campus.

The most striking gaps are in relation to the events that unfolded between Wednesday 21st and Friday 23rd October, including the students’ march to the airport and the police attacks that followed, as well as the withdrawal of catering services in residences and on campus. The lack of adequate information on what was taking place probably fuelled alarm amongst staff, and led to a situation in which rumours, anecdotes and partial own experience often substituted for known and confirmed facts.

In my view it is urgent that we attempt to establish what occurred at UWC between 21st October and 7th November, as a basis for a rigorous self-assessment of how UWC managed the “Fees Must Fall” crisis of 2015.

7. Divisions amongst university staff members

Rather than: seeing staff members who met on Monday 26th October, some of whom also signed a statement and identified themselves as “concerned staff members”, as being out of touch and liable to self-deceiving analyses (which could have negative consequences);

In my view: divisions amongst staff members have been fuelled by the fact that everyone on campus had to rely heavily on “hearsay, assumptions and second-hand accounts” of events, because of the absence of reliable information (see above). “Concerned staff members” included those who responded to cries for help from students attacked by police on Friday 23rd October, bringing in food and medical supplies at a time when no-one from the university administration was present. Staff support of this kind has played a key role in buoying up the FMF movement, both at other universities and here at UWC.

Sympathy for the FMF movement has constituted one key response from staff; another has been outrage and a call for law and order, underpinned by (understandable) fear and alarm at what was perceived (rightly or wrongly) to be intimidatory behavior. A third response involves a mix of general sympathy and support for the aims of the movement, with a strong rejection of violence and a desire to avoid any delay in examinations.

As noted by the Rector, differences in viewpoint and in interpretation are inevitable in a community as diverse as ours - what is important is how we deliberate on these differences in charting a course of action. It is essential that debates on events be informed by a reliable factual account of events over the past two and a half weeks.

8. What about the future?

This is a key moment in post-apartheid South Africa. The political space is opening up, and in this students have played a key role in recent weeks, as most observers agree. The higher education sector is in dire straits, and its future is uncertain. Here at UWC, it is unclear how we can afford to implement most of the measures agreed with the FMF movement. The risks are high - but an opportunity has also opened up, as our colleague Premesh Lalu observes, to debate the very idea of what a university is.

In my view academics, administrative staff and workers should embrace the student movement and actively engage with it. We should try to forge a progressive alliance in support of democratically governed institutions that enable high quality teaching, learning and research. We might begin to work together in undertaking critical analyses of the national budget, moving on to the development of credible alternative budgets to place before government. On other fronts too, such as curriculum reform, staff and students need to join forces to create the kind of institutions we need. Let us see the fees crisis of 2015 as an opportunity for change, real change.

UWC SRC Statement of update on the gains of students 03/11/2015

[from https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=976126702460093&id=762721073800658]

Statement of update on the gains of students

03 November 2015
The Student Representative Council of UWC called an urgent Mass Meeting on the 3rd of November 2015. This was done to present to all students some of the positive gains which were so far recorded. It has always been the view of the SRC that there still needs more to be achieved and more concessions to be made in order to enhance the experience of students on campus. In this meeting the SRC had also invited the Rector to respond to the grievances of the broader student populace. It is unfortunate that the meeting could not conclude its business owing to various competing political interests and thus denying the student population an opportunity to interact and get feedback from the SRC. Going into this Mass Meeting, another meeting was already scheduled to take place with the‪#‎feesmustfall‬ movement so as to establish common ground and map a way forward. It is worth noting that most of these points that were under discussion were already in the SRC’s Programme of Action. In fact, most were already being discussed and agreed to by the SRC and with the University Management.
In that meeting, the SRC also agreed with the #feesmustfall movement to bring peace and calm to the university. This is in line with what the SRC President Akhona Landu made mention of when she said “It is sad that the #feesmustfall movement resorted to violence, intimidation and bullying tactics to innocent students of UWC. However for peace and ensuring a safe and conducive environment for our students, the SRC found it prudent to invite the group that has caused havoc on campus and engage with them”.

The following are the victories that were recorded on the meeting held on the 28th of October 2015, 1st of November and the 3rd of November 2015.
On the 3rd of November the SRC had the management to agree on the following additions
1. The meeting resolved that there will be free registration for all students in the year 2016 moving forward. Students will be registering once at the beginning of the year.
2. On the issue of Kovacs, it has been agreed that the Rector will be in engagement with Kovacs management regarding the removal of the fence as it creates a class difference. This will be done to also ensure social integration amongst students.
3. It was also supported by the Rector that the Executive Management must not be getting any further salary increments. This will be sent to the University Council for ratification.
4. The Picketing Policy will be presented to Council for review.
5. Free Counselling will be provided to the entire student community.
6. The meeting concluded that the dissolution of the SRC which was called for by the #feesmustfall movement will not happen as there was both no factual and legal basis to their demand. The SRC constitution, any other university statute and the Higher Education Act does not provide a legislative framework for such a call.
7. The University will also extend the shuttle service to students residing in surrounding areas such as Belhar.

The following are victories which were already recorded by the SRC prior to the meeting which was held on the 3rd of November 2015

1. Financial exclusions
Students who are academically deserving (50% +) and cannot afford upfront registration, will not be financially excluded from registering in the year 2016. It was further resolved that needy students, bursary holders, NSFAS recipients will not pay upfront registration. The university will implement the 0% fee increment for 2016.

2. Food Security
On Food security and support for students, the university resolved that a R2 million is to be set aside to support students that have financial challenges, upon the registration process.
The SRC will continue engaging in serious and solution-oriented discussions with the University around the total scrapping of registration fee for 2016.

3. On NSFAS application & 2014 NSFAS shortfall
The meeting agreed that the academically performing students affected by the 2014 NSFAS short fall will not be negatively affected during the 2016 registration period. Further the university will engage with the NSFAS board for additional funding. The university further commits to explore further funding options to combat the 2014 NSFAS short fall.
It was also agreed that the financial aid office will re-open the applications for funding for the 2016 academic year. The date(s) for the re-opening will be communicated to students

4. Online versus paper based application
The university will continue with a dual system of online applications and paper application forms will be acceptable. The University has agreed to make available print application forms where needed or requested.

5. Application form fees
No application fees will be charged for the new cycle of applications for 2017.

6. Access system in residences
The restricted access system in residences will be abolished after safety and order has been restored on campus and the university commits to full implementation in 2016.

7. Student Cards
The cost for a lost student card or the replacement of a student card will be reduced to R70. Students have the option to pay by cash or for the cost to be billed to a student’s account.

8. Examination times
It has been agreed that that there needs to be a review of slots/times to ensure the safety of students. This will be considered for 2016 and will be processed through appropriate governance structures for ratification.

9. Student Number as form of Identification
The SRC managed to convince the university to ensure that students only write their student number on assessment papers (tests, assignment etc.) as opposed to writing full names. This will be submitted to the relevant governance structures for ratification and Implementation from 2016.

10. International students’ office
An office for international students will be established in the beginning of 2016 to assist with all matters related to international students.
The university has agreed to the SRC proposal of engaging with the Department of Home Affairs about the possibility of a mobile office on campus quarterly to assist students with documentations.
Assistance to refugees will be managed by the International Office to be established before the 2016 registration period commences.

11. Differently Abled Students
The university has already, on several occasions, met with DASA and have been presented with a list of issues, including physical infrastructure, service delivery in terms of support, and academic arrangements such as examinations. On the basis of this, a plan has been developed to be implemented with ongoing engagement with DASA. The University will establish an inclusive task team, consisting of DVC Student Development, SRC and DASA, to monitor the implementation of this plan.

12. Work study
The University will be reviewing the work-study rates and continue to ensure that there is preference not only for NSFAS but for all financial needy students.

13. Graduating with outstanding fees
The office of the Presidency of RSA has constituted a task team to deal with matters relating to students historical debts. The University together with the SRC will engage with the task team on how best to assist UWC students that owe and need to graduate.

14. Employment equity
The University Employment Equity Plan, as well as special initiatives to grow, promote, attract and retain black academics with a special focus on African academics, will be workshopped with the SRC.

15. Outsourcing
The SRC can confirm that the university will be embarking on a feasibility study of outsourcing in terms of the concerns around saving and curbing unnecessary exorbitant expenditure and engage with the SRC about these analyses. The SRC vows to closely monitor this process so as to ensure positive outcomes indeed emerge from this process.
There should be an encouragement for vendors to support students. However, it cannot be a condition of procurement otherwise it could be considered as unethical procurement processes.

16. Financial assistance funding committee
The mandate of the Bursary and Scholarship Committee will be extended to include the identification of possible alternative funding for students who are financially needy.

17. Institutionalization of Kovacs
It was agreed that all relevant stakeholders will have an urgent meeting this week before the exams to look at the proposed residence fee increase and how the university mitigates it.
The university is meeting with the Department of Higher Education and Training on the 5th of November to discuss the application for funding to acquire Kovacs, the University remains committed to finding the solution with the department.

18. Academic support
It was agreed that the Library will be open till 2am during the November/December exam period with exploring the option of operating for 24hrs in 2016.
A resolution was adopted that residence computer labs will be operating for 24hrs during the exam period and going into 2016.
The meeting agreed that all the academic staff will be available for consultation and to provide additional academic support throughout the exam period.
19. Safety and security

The meeting agreed to improve safety and security on campus and around the Belhar area during the exam period and a long term strategy that will include SAPS, Belhar neighbourhood watch and the general safety of the students in private accommodation spaces.

20. Examinations and Assessments
An agreement was reached that the exam period will commence on the 9th until the 28th of November followed by the Re-evaluation on the 30th of November to the 9th of December.
Furthermore, it was agreed that the scheduled December graduation will continue as planned in December. The date will be communicated in due course.

21. Accommodation
The university agreed that the residence application system will be re-opened for 2016 and that all those who received a response that was unsuccessful are urged to consult the CHC and Res Life staff.
The university agreed that a committee will be established to identify private accommodation that will be conducive for learning and living environment for all those students residing in private accommodation.
The university agreed that the financial aid office as well as residential services will provide the SRC with the database of students residing at private accommodation.
The SRC managed to convince the university that all the land lords must be regulated and accredited by the university, in line with the ministerial requirements for private accommodation.
The SRC managed to convince the university that Residential Services will immediately acquire computers for the differently abled students who reside at Chris Hani and the computer lab will be situated at the ground level.

22. On the Free Quality Education Call
In responding to the national call of free education by the SRC and students, the meeting resolved that a task team be put in place to explore options for UWC regarding the call for free education to be submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The SRC has consistently called for peace and stability on campus so as to bring a conducive and safe environment to ensure examinations take place. The SRC also prides itself in being rooted on the grievances of students and serving them selflessly with utmost dedication.

Yours in Active Student Governance
SRC 2015/16
.

Rector update and Agreement with #FEESMUSTFALL: 3 November 2015

Dear Campus Community

As I have done over the past two weeks, I wish to provide you with an update.

Yesterday morning we held a Staff Meeting where staff was very clear about the fact that the University management had to urgently find a way to resolve the current situation in order for academic activities and final exams to be able to continue.  

Yesterday afternoon the SRC called a Mass Meeting of students, to update them on the agreements reached to date. The meeting was scheduled for lunchtime today and was so well attended that it had to be moved from the Main Hall to the Sports Stadium. Unfortunately the business of the meeting could not be dealt with given the standoff between the #feesmustfall movement and the SRC.  

As per a pre-negotiated agreement, the SRC and the #feesmustfall movement had a meeting immediately after the mass meeting.  The SRC and the #feesmustfall movement then issued an invitation for me to join them. After 7 hours of negotiations I am pleased to report that we reached agreement on all of the matters raised in the Memorandum of Agreement from the #feesmustfall movement that had not been resolved as part of the negotiations with the SRC. As part of the agreement reached the #feesmustfall movement agreed to immediately suspend protest action to allow for the normal resumption of the University’s academic activities and for exams to start on Monday.

For your information I attach the Agreement that was reached this evening. This must be read together with the earlier update from the SRC.

 The issue of increased security, that had raised some concerns, was already addressed during the course of the day when we heard about the track-record of the company subcontracted by our security provider.  In this regard we immediately withdrew the services of the company.  

I wish to thank the UWC community for their understanding and support as well as both the SRC and the #feesmustfall leadership for the spirit in which the meeting took place. The past two weeks have been taxing on all of us and I have assured the SRC and the #feesmustfall movement of my commitment to work tirelessly to rebuild relationships and address some of the hurt experienced by all parties. I hope that as a staff community and as a broader campus community we can similarly restore our unity of purpose.

Yours sincerely

Prof Tyrone Pretorius

Rector and Vice-Chancellor

Agreement reached in a meeting between the Rector, SRC, and #FEESMUSTFALL representatives available here.

Summary of communications from VC - 22 October to 1 November 2015

The Rector / Vice Chancellor of UWC, Prof Tyrone Pretorius, sent out an email with all communication from 22 October to 1 November combined into a single PDF. You can find it here.