Stellenbosch University students facing off with the Public Order Police during a recent protest against financial blocks to registration. PHOTO: Anke Spies
Stellenbosch University’s (SU) student leadership body is not completely satisfied with the response received from the university following three days of protest action and a meeting with the rectorate.
This is according to Roceshia Februarie, president of the Student Representative Council (SRC).
“Management has a responsibility to apologise to their students,” said Februarie. “For that point we are not resting.”
This is in regards to the events of 20 February, when the Public Order Police (POPS) used stun grenades to disperse protesting students on Victoria Street, and moved onto campus grounds in body protection gear.
The SRC met with the SU Rectorate on 21 February, after another day of protests, to present a memorandum of demands, according to an official statement released by the SRC.
SU responded by extending registration for returning students to 28 February to assist students on a case-by-case basis. This is according to official communication from Ronel Retief, SU’s registrar.
The communication from Retief, sent to SU students and staff on 24 February, stated that financial blocks to registration were lifted for certain National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) students, and that the university has secured R10 million to aid students with debt.
The protest action was halted following the meeting on 21 February, and SU’s subsequent response.
The Public Order Police, in body protection gear, moving onto Stellenbosch University campus after throwing stun grenades to disperse the crowd of protesting students on 20 February. VIDEO: Anke Spies
Meanwhile, SU spokesperson, Martin Viljoen, confirmed that SU – on the morning of 20 February – requested POPS to monitor and assist with the situation on campus.
“It is not in the university’s function (nor in that of Campus Security) to restore public order if disturbed,” said Viljoen in written communication with SMF News.
According to Viljoen, using a stun grenade is standard POPS procedure in dispersing crowds.
A traumatising impact on students
Februarie said that this was a traumatic event for students involved in the protest, and that the university must “make sure that those students are front line for counseling”.
In an official video released by SU on 25 February, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching, said that he “acknowledge[s] that the events of Thursday, where stun grenades were thrown at a crowd of students while protesting at Victoria Street, had a traumatising impact on the students”.
Protests at Stellenbosch University continued on 21 February outside the education building. However, protest action has since stopped after Stellenbosch University granted a further registration extension. PHOTO: Anke Spies
SMF News has contacted the Stellenbosch department of the South African Police Service but has received no comment by time of publication.