Wits gears up for legal battle with students
Wits University has accused two of its students of being "selfish and reckless" after they approached the courts to halt an earlier decision by the institution to shut its doors earlier than planned.
Two of its students, Lerato Moela and Matsobane Shaun Matlhwana, filed an urgent application in which they want the court to interdict the evacuation of students from residences.
The application was launched on Tuesday at the High Court in Johannesburg after an announcement by the university on Monday of its decision to go into early recess, giving students 72 hours to vacate their residences.
University spokesperson Shirona Patel says the university is set to oppose the application.
"They are basically interdicting the university's decision which instructs students to leave their residences immediately and also says all university activities are suspended
"The university's view is that these students are being selfish and that they are being reckless and that we are basically going against the state protocol which is asking us as schools and universities to limit the congregation of people."
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"In today's meeting, we agreed on the following immediate measures: that all post-school education and training institutions will be closed for early recess with effect from tomorrow. "And this includes the normal, planned institutional breaks that we were going to be having." Nzimande said the reopening of the institutions will depend on how the coronavirus outbreak unfolds.
Patel estimates that there are at least 6000 students living in residences across all its campuses.
"As per the state president's speech on Sunday we have to limit gathering to about 100 and it is for this reason that we are trying to limit the number of students that we have in residences."
The matter will be heard in court on Wednesday.
Last week a medical student from Wits University tested positive for coronavirus, causing panic and fear among staff and students who suspect they might have come into contact with the student.
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