News24 reports that some University of Pretoria (UP) employees, who embarked on a strike due to a wage dispute, have been accused of blocking students from entering the main campus on Monday.
AfriForum's youth movement accused select employees of intimidating students and denying them access to the Hatfield campus. In a video, seen by News24, students were turned away from entering the campus. The video published online by the youth movement shows an instance of students arguing with striking employees. In a letter written to the University of Pretoria's interim vice-chancellor, Professor Themba Mosia, AfriForum said reports of students being intimidated and prevented from entering the campus suggested the safety of students was being compromised. UP spokesperson Rikus Delport confirmed that "some of the strikers illegally obstructed some of the entrances for vehicles for a short while on the Hatfield campus of the university". The strike comes after a deadlock in negotiations between the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the university due to a wage dispute. Delport said the university had offered a 4% increase, which had been rejected. In a statement, Nehawu said it was demanding: 7% wage increase; 13th cheque; a once-off bonus; five days leave encashment; and long service cash awards for 10, 15 and 20 years of service.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Mitchley at News24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page