Johannesburg – The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has moved to suspend several students following two days of protests over its registration policy.
Students were protesting against the university’s refusal to register students that owe the institution fees.
“This afternoon, we also issued multiple suspension orders to disruptors who transgressed the University’s rules,” the university said late on Thursday.
“‘The Legal Office will continue to work through the evidence submitted by the Wits community to ensure that perpetrators who can be identified, are charged.
“During the course of the suspension processes and other investigations, we found that some of the perpetrators who were committing infractions were academically excluded. Some had failed multiple times, had lost their funding, and were now demanding to be registered.”
University authorities said they have reached out to the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), but they have declined to engage at this stage.
“We will continue these efforts through the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs,” the university said.
“All university activities will continue as scheduled tomorrow.
“We are also asking lecturers and academics to make up for any time lost today, and to upload relevant material to ulwazi.”
The Wits senior executive team said it was aware of the impact of disruptions.
“We know that this disruption is frustrating and that it impacts on members of the University community,” said the team.
“We are managing the situation and we thank you for your patience and cooperation.”
Wits says it is owed about one billion rand in “historical debt”.
The protests, led by the Student Representative Council (SRC), began on Wednesday.
The SRC has insisted on “shutting down”‘ the university’s campus until the student’s demands are met.
Registration info: Settle first fee payment – Wits University