Following student unrest at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) which led to the closure of the institution on 24 March 2010, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, dispatched a delegation from the department to investigate the nature and reasons for the disruptions.
The delegation, headed by the acting Deputy Director-General for Universities, reported back to the minister on the breakdown in the relationship and discontinuation in talks between management and the students.
The breakdown in governance and sound institutional management is untenable and deters from a focus on teaching and learning. Minister Nzimande has decided that an independent investigation is required to determine the reasons for the unrest and to propose recommendations to resolve the dispute.
A task team headed by Dr Vincent Maphai and including Paul Slack and Sahlulele Luzipo, has been appointed to investigate the causes of the unrest and instability and to propose immediate measures for resolution. The task team will make suggestions about short, medium and long-term measures to ensure that the culture of teaching and learning is restored at the institution. The task team will commence its work on 7 April 2010 and will provide the minister with a full report on this fact finding mission within 20 days.
Minister Nzimande urges all stakeholders, management, students and staff at the institution to cooperate with the investigation. The minister would like to remind students that it is important that normal teaching and learning continues while the investigation proceeds.
“The purpose of the investigation is to find solutions but the normal activities of the institution should not be disrupted,” Minister Nzimande said.
Enquiries:
Ranjeni Munusamy
Tel: 012 312 5555
Cell: 082 898 6082
E-mail: munusamy.r@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Higher Education and Training
6 April 2010
