Monday, October 14, 2013

Turfloop Campus Wins Injunction Against SASCO Over Dispute With EFF

Limpopo
Oct 14 2013 11:11AM

University interdicts protestors

Montsho Matlala
New Age, RSA

The University of Limpopo’s Turfloop Campus outside Polokwane has obtained an interim court interdict to stop members of the SA Student Congress (Sasco) and its 10 members from disrupting lectures on campus.

Despite being a new formation, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by former ANCYL president Julius Malema, came neck and neck by winning an equal number of seats (four) as the ANC-aligned Sasco in the recent SRC election at the university. The newly formed party has beaten ANCYL and Students Christian organisation in the campus polls.

The Sasco-led protests disturbed lectures and resulted in some students staying away last week as the dispute over the control of the SRC between Sasco and Julius Malema’s EFF continued.

The court interdict which the university obtained in the North Gauteng High Court also interdicts respondents, cited as Sasco and 10 respondents from molesting or intimidating students, staff members or visitors on campus.

But yesterday, Sasco’s Kwena Seanego said the protest would continue today despite the court interdict.

“Management and vice-chancellor Prof Mahlo Mokgalong are trying to intimidate us. They must allow us to take over the SRC and stop being partial to EFF,” Seanego said.

But in a statement by EFF’s provincial convener Mike Mathebe and coordinator George Raphela, the organisation blamed Sasco for what it called “barbaric activities”.

“We call on Sasco to accept that EFF is here to stay and to bring change to student politics. Sasco has started a riot, vandalising university property and terrorising the people of Mankweng,” they said.

More than 10 students who were arrested during violence on campus on Thursday are expected to appear in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court today.

montshom@thenewage.c

No comments: