Classes at the University of the Western Cape have been suspended until next week after student protests disrupted the start of the academic year.
Yesterday, entrances were blocked off and traffic was chaotic around the campus as students again demonstrated, demanding an extension for accommodation, debt clearance and course registration.
This comes after the Student Representative Council (SRC) on Monday called for a postponement in the academic
programme as almost 9 000 students were yet to be registered for 2020.
UWC released a statement after classes were again disrupted, leading to a suspension of their programmes.
Spokesperson Gasant Abarder said: “The UWC’s executive has decided to postpone the academic programme this week.
“This will allow students who have not registered to complete the processes.
“Normal university activities will continue even though classes have been suspended.
“Academics will upload necessary content on the
Ikamva student portal.
“Classes will resume on Monday and more information will be made available this week.”
SRC chairperson Sasha Douglas was unavailable for comment on Wednesday as she was in talks with students.
Douglas previously stated they wanted to delay the start of the academic year to ensure every student had an equal opportunity to be registered and cleared from historical debt by UWC's Student Credit Management.
Anton Aggenbach, 50, from Atlantis, says the suspension of classes is a waste of time as he drives students daily, only to be told to go back.
“It’s ridiculous, we drive at 6.30am. It’s an hour to travel only to hear classes are suspended. We understand the frustration, but is there no
better way to solve this than wasting other students’ valuable time?” he fumed.