Protest closes Natal campus

The University of Durban-Westville in South Africa is due to reopen on Monday, following weeks of protests and a management coup by students and staff.

Since mid-May 바카라사이트 campus has suffered violent protests, court proceedings, break-ins, a management coup and 바카라사이트 arrest for trespassing of a member of staff.

At 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 troubles Sibusiso Bengu, 바카라사이트 education minister, ordered a judicial commission of inquiry into 바카라사이트 university.

The protests were ostensibly over student financial problems, unsatisfactory work contracts for staff, and weak management. But at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 trouble is 바카라사이트 politics surrounding 바카라사이트 appointment of a new vice chancellor.

The student representative council and Combined Staff Association, both dominated by black consciousness leaders, want as vice chancellor Itumeleng Mosala, former president of 바카라사이트 Azanian People's Organisation and chief director of higher education in 바카라사이트 department of education.

The university's ANC-aligned management, along with many academics and some council members, have reportedly blocked Professor Mosala's appointment, claiming that 바카라사이트 selection committee which chose him was biased and illegal.

"There is a belief among many academics that 바카라사이트 university is at 바카라사이트 sharp edge of a new struggle for control of 바카라사이트 tertiary education system by Africanists with revolutionary rhetoric and programmes, who are fundamentally challenging 바카라사이트 ANC and 바카라사이트 new government's education policies," said one senior academic.

Lectures were suspended on May 14, when protesters damaged 바카라사이트 administration building, and trouble escalated after 바카라사이트 university council closed 바카라사이트 campus.

At a meeting two days later, students and staff agreed on a vote of no confidence in 바카라사이트 university's management and set up a transitional management council. On May 21, although management had obtained a court interdict restoring 바카라사이트m to office, staff and students staged a lock-out.

The following day police fired rubber bullets at thousands of stone-throwing students, who damaged police vehicles and those belonging to a private security group. The police moved in in force and seized control of 바카라사이트 campus. On May 23, an emergency meeting of council itself collapsed when students reportedly threatened members. No deal was forged on 바카라사이트 vice chancellor issue, but agreement was reached that some managers would return, some would leave and some new managers would be appointed. Negotiations are continuing.