IFP MEDIA STATEMENT BY: 
MR ALFRED MPONTSHANE MP
IFP EDUCATION SPOKESPERSON

5 March 2008

Teaching has come to a complete standstill at the Mangosuthu University of Technology where a stand-off has developed between the management of the University and the SADESMO-led student representative council (SRC). 

Students are striking and have lodged several complaints with the University.  

The complaints are as follows: 

- Students are not allowed to receive visitors at the hostels 

- Not enough lecturers. There are currently several vacant posts in the accounting, human resources, agricultural and environmental departments 

- Lecture halls are dilapidated 

- Laboratories have no equipment 

- Buses from Durban are not reliable and students often miss their classes 

Management seems unfazed by the difficulties faced by the students and they have not come up with any immediate solutions to address the issues outlined above. 

Furthermore, police opened fire with rubber bullets on striking students this week, injuring four. The students are protesting for the right to a quality tertiary education and they should be allowed to do so without the fear of being shot. 

Mangosuthu University of Technology's student leaders have been elected by the students of the University, who are the main stakeholders of this institution, yet management have failed to acknowledge the new leadership of this council and has seemingly failed to work together with the SRC. 

The IFP has also learned that the secretary of the SRC has been suspended without substantial reasons and that three other students have also been expelled. 

The current situation at the University is a national disgrace and the IFP would like to call on the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education to intervene by arranging a fact-finding mission to the University as a matter of urgency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr Alfred Mpontshane MP: 083 441 6201
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470