by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 27, 2015 | News
NO POWER: Outsourced electrical workers at Wits have not been paid since January and have not returned to work for several weeks. Photo: Roxanne Joseph
Electrical workers employed by a Wits contractor allege that they have not been paid for six weeks, but they will not be getting any help from the university administration.
The outsourced workers, who are employed by MJL Electrical, have complained to the Wits Legal Office and activist groups but have not yet seen their back pay.
Trouble started for the workers when they noticed they had not been paid for the month of December, with both their salaries and bonuses outstanding.
According to one of the workers, Aubrey Saku, they were eventually paid in early January, but not the full amounts they were owed. Since then, they have not seen a cent from MJL Electrial.
A three-way dispute
Prof Beatrys Lacquet, the deputy vice chancellor of infrastructure and operations at Wits, said the university has paid what it owes to MJL Electrical two weeks ago.
She said the responsibility for paying the workers is with MJL Electrical and not Wits.
“MJL management is responsible to run the company and comply with all legislation and regulations,” she told Wits Vuvuzela.
When reached for a response, MJL Electrical owner George Cresswold told Wits Vuvuzela that he does not want to comment on the dispute until he has met with the university and “given the process proper opportunity to take its course”.
“There is a solution,” he said. “And we are committed to making this work.”
A month later they were again not paid and have not worked since February 9.
The workers also allege that when they were paid for the month of December, they were not paid in full.
“We all worked for 10 days, but some of us were only paid for eight, or seven … We all had money deducted from our salaries,” Saku said.
Saku said Cresswold assured them they would be paid in full and the electricians continued to work for another month.
However, a month later they were again not paid and have not worked since February 9.
Cresswold again promised they would be compensated on Monday this week, but that deadline came and went without payment.
Chowing on taxes
The workers allege that Cresswold had been deducting tax from their salaries but they said they have never received IRP5 documents, the proof that their taxes had been paid to SA Revenue Service (SARS).
When confronted, workers said Cresswold admitted that he has never submitted their withheld money to SARS but promised he would, according to Saku.
“He has been chowing it,” Saku said.
The workers said in January that MLJ Electrical, which had been contracted for electrical repairs for the university, had run out of supplies which left them unable to do their jobs conducting necessary maintenance to Wits electrical system.
Lacquet said MJL is not the sole provider of electrical services at Wits and if they cannot do the job, the university had other outsourced companies at their disposal.
“If MJL cannot deliver a specific service at a time, Wits can get an alternate provider and vice versa regarding another service provider.”
The workers responded to the lack of materials and previous payment issues with a go-slow, at the beginning of January.
On Friday February 6, they arrived at work to find they had been locked out.
Cresswold continued to refuse to pay them and did not provide a reason, according to Saku.
Two weeks ago they were temporarily suspended.
During a meeting with the Wits Legal Office several days later, were told the process to suspend them had been unfair.
“We [the workers] were in the right … Cresswold said that we were striking, but we weren’t,” said Saku.
Wits Legal Office declined to comment to Wits Vuvuzela for this story.
Dr Shireen Ally of Sociology, an activist with the Wits Workers Solidarity Committee, told Wits Vuvuzela that after the university intervened, Cresswold and the workers reached a verbal commitment that the suspensions would be cancelled and the workers “indicated this was subsequently received in writing”.
However, Saku said they would not return to work until they have been paid.
The workers have returned to Wits a number of times to try and resolve the issue and are “frustrated” with not having been paid.
Additional reporting by Reuven Blingnault.
by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 23, 2015 | News
Classes have resumed at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal campuses after protests at both institutions last week.
TUT evicted students from a number of its campuses during the first week of lectures following violent protests over the financial aid crisis.
All academic activities were suspended until last Friday when an agreement was reached with the university’s student representative council (SRC). A formal agreement is expected to be reached by the end of today according to university spokesperson, Willa de Ruyter.
For the time being, she said, central management and the SRC have agreed that “students cannot lose more time with their studies”.
The university has extended the registration deadline until March 3 to allow students more time, according to de Ruyter.
The first week of lectures at UKZN had also been suspended, but according to the university’s communications department, “everything was back to normal and it is all very peaceful”. It remains unclear as to why students were protesting at the institution although the issue of financial exclusion was raised by the SRC.
by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 21, 2015 | Featured 1
WAY FORWARD: Wits student Sisanda Msekele is now able to register for her PhD after receiving financial assistance from the university. Photo: Provided.
Sisanda Msekele, an anthropology masters student, faced homelessness and debt of nearly R100 000 a week ago. But following an article in the Wits Vuvuzela about her plight, she has received financial assistance from Wits University and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), making it possible for her to remain in residence and register for her doctoral studies (PhD).
Professor Eric Worby, director of the Humanities Graduate Centre, with the help of Humanities Dean, Prof Ruksana Osman, have worked with the university to ensure Msekele’s outstanding fees of R96 299 are settled. The fees accrued after the NSFAS ( National Student Financial Aid Scheme) failed to pay for one year.
“We were very sorry she found herself in this position,” Worby told Wits Vuvuzela. “This is hugely important to us, as she is one of our best students, and someone we want to support.”
Head of Anthropology, Dr Hylton White, who has been involved in assisting Msekele since November last year, said his department was not aware of how serious Msekele’s financial predicament was, but is “relieved that the problem could be resolved so quickly once it became apparent”.
Yesterday afternoon Msekele received the news that the DHET had provided additional funds to support her. This will be used to offset any outstanding debt. Msekele told Wits Vuvuzela that she is still waiting to hear what will happen with any money that is left over, but hoped that it could be used towards her PhD.
She said that she is overwhelmed and ecstatic. “You have no idea, I now sleep like a baby at night, I don’t expect someone to come and kick me out.”
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by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 20, 2015 | News
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by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 16, 2015 | News
EDUCATION SUSPENDED: Protests over fees have been ongoing at TUT since the middle of last year. Photo: Twitter
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has suspended the start of the academic year and evicted students from a number of its campuses, following violent protests over the financial aid crisis, the Independent Online reported.
On Friday evening, students were given until noon on Sunday to vacate Soshanguve north, Soshanguve south, Ga-Rankuwa, Mbombela and eMalahleni campuses.
Activities have been suspended until an agreement is reached with the university’s Student Representative Council (SRC), TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter told Independent Online.
She said that, following a series of violent protests, the university was concerned about the students’ safety.
“Our first and foremost concern is the students as we are responsible for them while they are on our premises. So, in the interest of their safety and to avoid possible damage to property, we decided this was the best route,” she said.
JacarandaFM reported on Twitter that some first year students do not support the suspension and “fear they will fail”.
Several students have complained on Twitter that although the SRC have encouraged them to remain in res and to continue protesting for free registration, they are nowhere to be seen.
De Ruyter said they were hoping for a response from the SRC soon.
Protests at TUT have been ongoing since September last year, when students burnt a bus on campus and the SRC was suspended over National Student Financial Aid Scheme protests.
The first week of lectures at the University of KwaZulu-Natal have also been suspended, after student protests. It remains unclear for what reason the students are protesting, as they have yet to raise their concerns officially with the university.
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by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 13, 2015 | News
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by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 13, 2015 | News
With just three days before she is set to hand in her research paper, Anthropology masters student Sisanda Msekele is facing homelessness and almost R100,000 in outstanding fees.
In late November last year, she received an email from the university that said her fees had not been paid for, despite being able to register with funds from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS) disability unit.
Msekele has been blind since she was 18 and uses a guide dog to get around. Her mother died giving birth to her and she lost her father not long after, and has no family in Johannesburg. Msekele has relied on government funding since her first year of study.
But at the end of last year, Msekele received an email from Wits which said she owes the university R96 299. The emailed warned that if this amount was not settled by January 2015, legal action could be taken against her. She would also not be allowed to re-register, which would prevent her from pursuing her PhD in Anthropology.
She has lived in res throughout her studies and has been allowed to stay in university accommodation—for now. Claude Vergie, assistant registrar of Campus Housing, told Msekele via email that if she continues to stay at West Campus Village, she will be charged for the full year.
“In terms of university policy, we should have evicted you already,” he said in the email sent to her at the end of January this year. “This is a rather serious matter.”
Wits Vuvuzela attempted to contact Vergie, but he was unavailable at the time.
Msekele told Wits Vuvuzela that she thinks she will have to move out once she has submitted her research on Monday.
Anthropology masters student Sisanda Msekele has been threatened with possible legal action if she does not pay outstanding fees of nearly R100 000. Photo: Roxanne Joseph
“A friend has offered me a place to stay in Soweto, but it’s really far and difficult to get around with Romy [her guide dog], but at least I know I have somewhere to go,” she said.
She has turned to both the Wits financial aid office and disability unit for assistance. Although numerous people at financial aid have been trying to assist her, she has not heard back from them for a number of weeks now.
Msekele also said that after she received a second notification threatening legal action if she did not pay the outstanding fees, she went to financial aid and was made to sign forms, but she could not read them and staff members did not tell her what they were for. It was also then that she found out the NSFAS disability unit does not fund Masters students.
Portia Simelane, who deals with all Wits-related NSFAS issues, emailed the department of higher education, but not yet received a response from them. “She told me there is no more NSFAS money left,” Msekele said.
She has received assistance from Dr Anlina Pretorius of the Wits disability unit.
“She has kept pushing the entire time,” said Msekele. “She emailed the CEO of NSFAS, but hasn’t got a response.”
“We have really tried to assist her in every way possible,” Duncan Yates, learning coordinator at the unit, told Wits Vuvuzela. “And we are still looking into the matter, but now there are various parties at the university involved.”
Msekele also contacted the vice chancellor’s office, which responded by saying that Prof Adam Habib does not make decisions regarding financial aid. Msekele was then referred back to the financial aid office.
Msekele does not know what lies ahead for her now.
“I’ve exhausted all the options and I just wish I knew what the next step was,” she said. She has been looking for a research job since November, because without one, she will not be able to rent a place to live.
She also cannot pay the outstanding amount.
“It is so stressful though, I just want my fees to be paid.”
by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 13, 2015 | Featured 1
TURN UP: The VoW crew spent O-week outside the Great Hall each day, interviewing first years and makin sure that party-goes could “turn up” at the beer garden and Freshers’ Bash. Photo: Roxanne Joseph
With a stronger signal and the opportunity to attract more listeners, Voice of Wits (VoW FM) is “bringing the fire” as the VoW crew say.
This past week they re-launched as a fresh station and are now available on 88.1 FM, a frequency on which no other broadcaster exists, according to station manager Mike Smurthwaite. He said with their previous frequency (90.5) they shared the space with GrootFM, which is based in Pretoria, and found there was often a clash.
“It took four and a half years to find a solution to the problem but finally we managed to find a new frequency which is feasible and gives better coverage,” he told Wits Vuvuzela.
The new frequency will cover most of Jo’burg and reaches places such as Edenvale, Boksburg, Soweto, Dobsonville, Sandton and Rosebank that did not receive it before.
After spending last weekend testing and putting the final touches on everything, the team were able to go “100% live” at the start of O-week.
When asked what would be different about the campus radio station this year, Smurthwaite said being able to reach more people and students, especially those who fall directly into their target market, would encourage people to actually be involved.
“Now, the potential is there for the Wits community and for Wits students to buy into the station and they own the station … fundamentally, the community owns the station,” he said.
One of the biggest complaints, according to Smurthwaite, was being unable to actually hear the station. Even at Wits, which fell directly within the frequency range, the signal was not always good. Even people staying in res, at Junction, often couldn’t hear it.
“So obviously people don’t even try to consume the product, nor do they even try to engage with the station, because they don’t see the point,” he said.
As part of their new look and feel, the team spent the week engaging and interacting with new students and student societies, broadcasting live each day from the Great Hall plaza.
“We’re trying to create a culture that says to students, ‘there’s more to life at Wits than academics’,” said Smurthwaite.
His team worked all through the holidays to prepare for the year ahead. “It’s taking what could not be heard before, polishing it and providing something that’s of high quality.”
by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 13, 2015 | News
NO SUPPORT: SRC President Mcebo Dlamini says the Wits SRC does not support the DUT’s call to expel Jewish students. Photo: Nqobile Dludla
The Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) has said it refuses to support the Durban University of Technology (DUT) SRC’s call for the deregisteration of Jewish students.
In an interview with Wits Vuvuzela yesterday, Wits SRC president Mcebo Dlamini called the demand “ridiculous and stupid”.
The demand, made by DUT’s SRC and the Progressive Youth Alliance, called for “Jewish students, especially those who do not support the Palestinian struggle,” to deregister from the institution.
Dlamini, on behalf of the Wits SRC, said that all South Africans have the right to study and should be able to study anywhere they want.
“I could never support this initiative or cause. We, as an SRC, are for a South Africa for all who live in it. For all those who support Palestinians and for all those who are Jewish.”
He told Wits Vuvuzela that he was going to recommend to Mqondisi Duma, deputy secretary of the DUT SRC, that they retract their demand, “from one president to another”.
“This is the wrong call, you cannot deal with issues of racism generally,” he said. “It shows some leaders are lazy to think,” Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela.
The DUT SRC was unavailable for comment at the time of publication but released a statement late Wednesday afternoon clarifying media reports of their demands. The statement says the DUT SRC believes the state of Israel is an “Apartheid, genocidal and terrorist State”. They said their demand was made in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
“… we demand that ANY Jewish, Muslim, Christian, even Atheist or any other that is funded by the Apartheid State of Israel and its institutions must not be students in DUT …,” read the statement. [READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE]
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by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 11, 2015 | News
The Durban University of Technology’s SRC and the Progressive Youth Alliance have demanded that Jewish students be kicked out. Photo: Facebook
The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Progressive Youth Alliance have demanded that Jewish students, especially those who support Israel, should be kicked out, Independent Online reported on Wednesday afternoon.
This also applies to students who are sponsored by the Israeli government. The demand was sent to university management and has shocked and angered Jewish organisations.
The university’s vice-chancellor, Prof Ahmed Bawa, responded by saying the demands are “outrageous, preposterous and a deep violation of our national Constitution and every human rights principle.”
SRC secretary Mqondisi Duma told Independent Online: “As the SRC, we had a meeting and analysed international politics. We took the decision that Jewish students, especially those who do not support the Palestinian struggle, should deregister.”
On Tuesday night, Natan Pollack, national chairman of the South African Union of Jewish Students, called the demand to kick out Jewish students from DUT “deplorable”.
“To discriminate against people because of their religious and political standpoint goes against freedom of speech,” he said.
Chairwoman of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, Durban-based Mary Kluk, said she was “appalled” and said it was unacceptable such demands could be made in an academic institution.
by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 10, 2015 | News
Flavia Rachel ‘Dolly’ Tshabalala was a secretary at Wits University. She was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, JoziFM DJ, Donald Sebolai. Photo: Facebook.
The family of Rachel “Dolly” Tshabalala, the murdered Wits secretary, is not doing well, according to longtime friend, Nhlanhla Mkhize.
Tshabalala, who worked in the school of civil engineering, was murdered last June, allegedly by her boyfriend, JoziFM DJ, Donald Sebolai.
Mkhize, who had been friends with Tshabalala since they were both five years old, said that she has “lost all hope” and does not believe Sebolai “will get the sentence he deserves”.
“He should spend the rest of his life in prison,” she told Wits Vuvuzela, following the postponement of Sebolai’s trial yesterday afternoon. “But with our system … there is no hope.”
“It is very sad that he is now running around,” she said. “And also very scary.”
The long-time friend described Tshabalala as someone who loved life, was kind and had “a happy soul”.
According to Mkhize the couple fought a lot, but she always thought Sebolai would kill his girlfriend “by accident”. Both her and the family “saw her death coming”, Mkhize said. “But I was shocked at the way he did it … absolutely shocked.”
The couple met in a Soweto pub about eight months before Tshabalala was found stabbed to death in Sebolai’s flat in Jabulani, Soweto. According to Mkhize, the couple comforted each other as they were both going through separations in their marriages.
Sebolai has pleaded not guilty to the murder and will make his next appearance on 11 May. He was initially denied bail but secured R10 000 bail last month.
At the time of her murder, Tshabalala was also studying towards a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in psychology at the Wits Plus centre for part-time students.
by Roxanne Joseph | Feb 9, 2015 | Featured 1
VoW is re-branding itself during O-Week, with a new look and wider reach. Photo: Dinesh Balliah
Voice of Wits (VoW FM) is heading for bigger and better things in 2015, as the campus radio station prepares to expand its reach across Johannesburg.
The radio station, now in its fifth year since re-launching in 2011, will soon be broadcast for a 10km radius around its Braamfontein headquarters.
“Previously we had about a 2km range,” said station manager Mike Smurthwaite. This included the whole campus, with the exception of Parktown residence Junction, where the frequency experienced problems.
“But now we’re going to cover the whole of campus, Junction and even further into Braamfontein.” This, he explained, is what’s called “very high frequency” and means that more listeners will be able to tune in, from further away.
With plans to re-launch and promote with a fresh, new brand during O-Week, Smurthwaite and the team have a big task ahead of them. A new logo, more recording facilities and space, and plans to “invade public spaces without people even knowing it’s going to happen” are just some of what students and the Braamfontein community have to look forward to.
According to Smurthwaite, there are almost no spare radio frequencies available in Johannesburg, so when VoW was offered one, they jumped at the opportunity to improve their sound and reach.
“Our team worked all through the holidays to make this happen,” he said.
