Students may join workers in protest
STUDENTS at UCT are threatening to protest in solidarity with the workers who are demanding to be insourced, and the institution to work on its safety plan.
One of the security officers, working under a privately owned company, Thorburn, at UCT, said workers demanded all security officers be insourced and trained adequately to prevent “dire situations” where student safety was compromised.
UCT Student Representative Council president Declan Dyer said they noted the ongoing protest action relating to student safety, quality of food in residences, and the call for the insourcing of workers.
Dyer said that earlier this week, a student was violently mugged outside their residence. That was but one of numerous reports of student robberies around residences and on campus.
EFF student command branch chairperson Mila Zibi said they were in support of the protest organised by the residence council.
Students and workers held a mass meeting at the Graça Lawns on Tuesday, discussing a way forward.
Zibi said they had been alerted of alleged sexual assault of workers by the outsourced company.
“The issues of insourcing are not foreign to the university.”
UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said the university noted the issues tabled before the executive on Tuesday.
Moholola said the executive was working on specific responses to the issues raised and would work with the student body to resolve them.
“UCT remains committed to a process of engagement and finding common ground, leading to resolutions on issues raised in the interest of the students and the institution,” said Moholola.
He said they noted, in particular, the serious claim around sexual assault, which had been made without any further substantiation at this stage.
He urged any student with any further details on that to approach the relevant structures so that the claim can be investigated and appropriate action taken.
He said that after becoming aware of safety concerns around certain areas on campus, the university’s campus protection services had agreed to increase visibility and vehicle patrols.
Moholola said a mobile kiosk had been moved to the corner of Avenue Road and Matopo Road in order to monitor the movement of vehicles.
“CPS has increased foot patrols to a more regular routine down Avenue Road and towards Rhodes Avenue.
“Groote Schuur Community Improvement District will increase vehicular patrols, and security staff at Avenue Road residence and Cadboll House will be more visible on Avenue Road side,” he said.