Minister Buti Manamela directs department team to facililate resolution at CPUT
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela, has requested a team from the University Education Branch to work with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and facilitate urgent engagement between the University management, Council and student leadership.
The intervention follows the total shutdown of the University after an arson attack at its Bellville Campus, which has resulted in significant disruption to learning, teaching and other essential institutional operations.
The disruptions have also arisen against the backdrop of concerns raised by students relating to the proposed 2027 financial plan, historical student debt, registration requirements, residence fees and conditions, academic records and other matters
contained in memoranda submitted to the University.
The Ministry condemns unequivocally the destruction of university property, violence, intimidation and any conduct that places students, staff and other members of the university community at risk. The Minister urges students to use legitimate channels through which to raise concerns affecting their access to higher education, affordability and living and learning conditions.
The departmental team has been mandated to:
- facilitate structured and constructive engagement between the parties;
- establish the verified facts underlying the respective grievances;
- identify matters that can be resolved immediately;
- assist the parties to agree to a clear and time-bound process for addressing outstanding matters; and
- support urgent efforts to restore learning, teaching and essential university services.
“The immediate priority is to bring the parties around the table, establish the facts and find a way forward that allows the academic programme to resume. Students have a right to raise legitimate concerns about their access to higher education.
Those concerns must be heard and addressed through constructive engagement. Equally, no student or staff member should have to fear for their safety or be prevented from exercising their right to study or work, said Minister Manamela.
“We cannot allow an impasse to become a permanent disruption to the academic year. We need responsible leadership from all sides and a commitment to resolving these matters through dialogue rather than confrontation,” added the Minister.
The Minister notes the withdrawal of the draft financial plan as an important opportunity for the University and student leadership to reset their engagement and address the outstanding issues in good faith.
The withdrawal of the draft financial plan creates an opportunity to reset the relationship between the parties. We now need to use that opportunity responsibly.
The focus must be on what can be resolved immediately, what requires further consideration, and what process will be followed to deal with the remaining matters.
“Leadership at the University and among students carries a responsibility to find solutions. Public statements and actions that inflame tensions will not assist us in resolving the issues before us,” the Minister said. The Minister has called on CPUT management, Council and student leaders to cooperate fully with the departmental team and to participate in the engagement process in good faith.
The Minister will remain engaged with CPUT, its Council, student leadership and other relevant stakeholders as the process unfolds, with the immediate objective of establishing a credible roadmap towards the restoration of learning, teaching and normal university operations.
Enquiries:
Matshepo Seedat
Cell: 082 679 9473
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