26 October 2018

Dear CUT Community

Since my communiqué released on Monday, 22 October 2018, the university experienced many challenges to continue with the 2018 October/November assessments (examinations), despite the additional protection services deployed and support provided by law enforcement agencies. These challenges included disruption of assessments, victimisation and harassment of staff and students, and acts of criminal nature related to arson attacks on university property. As these incidents are a direct violation of the constitutional rights of any student who wants to study or write examinations, Management strongly condemns these incidents, and they are being investigated. We will ensure that the perpetrators are identified, and that disciplinary processes are followed.

Management is taking this matter seriously, as well as our responsibility to ensure the safety of students and staff, and to protect CUT’s property. In order to normalise the situation at our campuses, and to ensure a conducive environment to conduct assessments, Management held a consultative meeting with the student leadership on 25 October 2018, and it was resolved that:

1. the 2018/19 Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Elections be conducted on Wednesday, 31 October 2018 at both campuses;
2. Thursday, 1 November 2018 be utilised for purposes of observing the vote-counting process;
3. the assessments scheduled for Monday, 29 October 2018 until Thursday, 1 November 2018, be postponed to accommodate the campaigns and SRC elections;
4. the assessments will resume on Friday, 2 November 2018 as scheduled;
5. the assessments of those modules that were disrupted on Monday, 22 October 2018, be rescheduled for Monday, 12 November 2018, and that the assessments of Monday, 29 October 2018 until Thursday, 1 November 2018 that were postponed, be rescheduled for Tuesday, 13 November 2018 to Friday, 16 November 2018 at both campuses;
6. the assessments at Welkom Campus that were not conducted on Tuesday, 23 October to Friday, 26 October 2018, be rescheduled at the Welkom Campus to be written from Monday, 19 November 2018 until Thursday, 22 November 2018; and
7. that the special assessments and re-assessments originally scheduled from 12 November 2018, be postponed to early in January 2019, to accommodate the days that had been lost during the current assessments.

We remain committed to ensure that the academic year will be completed successfully, whilst valuing the statutory requirement and important role that the SRC has to fulfil at our institution. I would like to extend my sincere apology to students, staff, parents, alumni and external partners for any inconvenience and possible harm caused as a result of these developments at our campuses, especially to those students and employees who were traumatised during this period.

Thank you for your continuous support!

Prof. Henk de Jager
Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Download the VC Communiqué (PDF)