North-West University to reopen ‘end of March’ after protesters set fire to buildings

The South African university which was forced to close after protesters torched buildings and vehicles in a row over the “unconstitutional removal of the democratically elected” student council has announced it will reopen later in March.

Administrators at the Mafikeng Campus at North-West University (NWU) in the city of Potchefstroom said a recent senate meeting decided the campus will be open again for classes on 29 March, with students able to move back into their residences on the 28th.

Staff members have already returned to work as of 29 February, said campus spokesman Koos Degenaar.

In a statement, Mr Degenaar added: “The month ahead will allow for enough time for the physical clean-up of the campus and also for the situation to normalise to such an extent that everyone would be able to proceed with their academic year in a stable environment.”

The announcement has come after the institution took action to close the campus “indefinitely” last month after widespread fire damage to various buildings on the campus on 24 February.

As chaotic scenes surfaced on Twitter, students were advised to leave the campus “immediately for their own safety” and return home, as the university said it was likely to take “a considerable period of time” to restore operations. Mr Degenaar had said students would be given at least a month’s notice of the re-opening of the campus.

Trouble had began at Mafikeng after university heads alleged a group known as the Economic Freedom Fighters Students Command (EFF) - along with supporters of the dissolved Student Representative Council (SRC) - disrupted an event which saw the inauguration of the newly-appointed Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC).

EFF later said in a statement: “NWU management has no-one to blame but themselves. Following the unrest protest in the institution, we must say they have invited anarchy when it was not necessary. They have arrogantly and unconstitutionally removed the democratically elected SRC from office.”

Former SRC president Linda ‘Benz’ Mabengwane - whose suspension reportedly ignited the protests - was then informed by the institution he was to be suspended from NWU for a period of three years and that all other higher education institutions throughout South Africa would be informed.

NWU had said Mr Mabengwane was “found guilty” of disrupting Mafikeng’s registration process, assaulting a fellow student, “wilfully bringing the name of the university into disrepute” by interfering with the rights of co-students during registration, interfering with Mafikeng’s managerial functions, and engaging with the media on topics that were “designed to bring the NWU into disrepute.”

According to the country’s IOL news site, Mr Mabengwane said he would be appealing the decision in court within the stipulated five working days, and said: “We will follow all internal processes.”

In the meantime, however, announcing how NWU would be making up for students’ lost time, Mr Degenaar said: “The March/April recess will be shortened by one week, the test week will be held during normal teaching periods, and there will be classes on Saturdays.

“This will ensure enough time will be recovered so that the first semester examination can start as scheduled.”

The spokesman insisted management’s new arrangements would be “in the best interest of everybody” and would ensure the university is able to undertake all academic activities of the first semester, and the 2015/16 academic year, as scheduled.

He concluded: “It is unfortunate that staff members and thousands of innocent students and their parents were affected by the totally irresponsible behaviour and criminal acts of a small group of students, supported by external elements.

“We appreciate your understanding and support in this regard.”