Exams to commence at UJ despite protests
Thousands of students at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) were expected to sit for examinations on Friday as protests against outsourcing of staff continued at the institution.
Vice Chancellor Ihron Rensburg was adamant on Thursday that his institution would do everything to ensure scheduled exams take place.
He said a task team, chaired by deputy vice chancellor Mpho Letlape was formed to look into outsourcing matters and come up with a plan before the end of the academic year.
The task team which will start its work on Friday includes labour unions, the Student Representative Council and other experts.
The team will look into how the university can exit current contracts with service providers and hire the outsourced workers in line with the institution’s employment system.
Five students – including the Student Representative Council (SRC) president Khutso Rammutla – and several staff members were suspended on Thursday for violating court interdicts following protests at the institution that started on Monday.
The university had two outsourced contracts, and the contractors had also acquired court interdicts to prevent their employees from protesting and disrupting those who wanted to work.
Protesting workers, mostly cleaners, were joined by a group of students. The students protested outside the campus demanding the immediate scrapping of outsourcing of staff at the institution.
A stand-off between private security guards and the protesters ensued on Thursday, which saw protesters manhandled by hired security personnel and pepper sprayed. Those who were injured were taken to hospital.