Students of the University of Cape Town (UCT) have blocked several vehicle entry points onto the Upper Campus on Wednesday, 16 February.
According to reports, the protest follows a statement issued by UCT’s Student Representative Council (SRC) where they criticised the university for a series of late registrations due to admin failures.
Entrances at UCT are blocked and shuttle service temporarily suspended, as the SRC beef up its protest, alleging that the university did not fulfil its promise of ensuring that all students were registered by February 14. #UCTProtest @TheCapeArgus pic.twitter.com/4te3rvoviw
— Sisonke Mlamla (@SISONKE_MD) February 16, 2022
The SRC urges everyone to join the shutdown. If your lecturers decide to move classes online, the SRC asks that you “unmute your mics and disrupt those online classes. Play music or scream.” pic.twitter.com/tr2yNYdY5k
— Her Campus UCT (@HerCampusUCT) February 16, 2022
In an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, the UCT SRC indicated that the university did not fulfil its promise of ensuring that all students are registered by 14 February.
Today was supposed to be the second day of the 1st semester at UCT, however, the SRC has closed all campus entrances because the university did not fulfil its promise of ensuring that all students are registered by the 14th of February pic.twitter.com/3lpadf9QiN
— Her Campus UCT (@HerCampusUCT) February 16, 2022
However, Phakeng responded in a statement saying that she is deeply disappointed that SRC has chosen to interfere with access control and the UCT shuttle service, disrupting some aspects of the academic programme.
“It is regrettable that, because of these interruptions, a number of students were prevented from access to classes and other facilities.
“Over the past few days, we have been in continual communication with the SRC, providing them with updates on progress in completing the registration process for the new academic year,” Phakeng said.
According to Phakeng, the university has explained that the delays in completing registration have been caused by a number of factors, including the unprecedented numbers of students seeking personal curriculum advice after the disruptions over the past two years, and the need for students to provide outstanding information that is required for their registrations to be completed.
“We have asked each Faculty to ensure that access to Vula is opened to all students, whether or not their registration is complete so that they are not disadvantaged.
“Last night, we provided the SRC with a briefing on outstanding registrations. As of today, a total of 512 student registrations were still being processed. Of these, 122 were new submissions, so delayed registration cases still outstanding amounted to 441. Many of these outstanding registrations will be complete by the end of today,” Phakeng explained.
The Vice-Chancellor called on the SRC to refrain from blocking access to campus and interrupting services with immediate effect and to honour their undertaking to work in the interest of all students.
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