By Maile Masimela and Lloyd Phillips
The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has taken a decision to temporarily close the Glen College of Agriculture with immediate effect until 18 April. This follows a student protest that took place on 19 March.
The department said in a statement that during these protests, students raised serious concerns with management of the college on several issues, mainly related to inconsistent water supply and electricity, as well as maintenance of infrastructure at the student residence.
Tshepo Mabilo, Acting Head of Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, together with the management of the college and students have discussed the approach to address these challenges.
“As a result of these deliberations and taking into account the nature of concerns raised by students, the decision was taken to close the college a week earlier in order to enable the college management to address these concerns thoroughly,” read the statement.
The department further said this is all in an effort to ensure they continue creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
“To this extent, the college management and the students reached a consensus on a way forward.”
A statement issued by the South African Student Congress (SASCO) on Wednesday said its Free State provincial task force (PTS) was “outraged by the deplorable conditions and allegations of misconduct” at the college.
The SASCO said grievances brought to its attention by students included:
- Bursary refunds for 2023 that have not yet been processed.
- Continued unacceptable living conditions.
- No lecturers for essential course modules and no classes for these modules have taken place since January.
The SASCO added that more recent grievances stemmed from police being called in to control the protesting students. These grievances include:
- Serious allegations of sexual harassment against some of the police officers who clashed with some of the protesting students on Wednesday.
- Protesting students who were immediately evicted from the GLK premises.
- The GLK management’s decision to immediately close the college until April 18.
“The PTS stands in solidarity with the students and demands the relevant authorities take swift and decisive steps to address these grievances,” SASCO’s statement reads.
A spokesperson for the FS DLLO undertook to provide answers to additional questions from African Farming on the subject.
*This is a developing story.
