DUT strike may end soon

By Latoya Newman

The management of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is hopeful that negotiations with protesting students will be concluded at a meeting on Thursday, ending disruptions that have dominated the university's central Durban campuses since last week.

Student protests on campus halted on Wednesday while their representatives and DUT management resumed talks to end the strike.

Since last week, protesting students have been marching from campus to campus, disrupting registration and financial aid processes.

The students' main gripes include wanting temporary accommodation at the Four Seasons Hotel on the beachfront until better permanent accommodation is acquired.

The students also want the head of student housing dismissed, saying more than 200 students were excluded from residences due to policies he had set in place, and washing machines and computers at residences. They also want better buses to transport students, claiming that those being used are not roadworthy.

DUT spokesperson Nqabomzi Gawe said they expected to "finalise outstanding issues" at today's meeting. "The SRC has requested time to study the management's proposal. The management has given the students' concerns increased attention during talks with the SRC over the last week, and hopes to reach a settlement," he said.