Teacher and Education Activist, Hendrick Makanetha said the university must not allow itself to be bullied by students about the decisions it takes with regards to accommodation.
Makanetha stated that there are norms and standards set by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) on residences which the institution needs to follow. University residences must be within the distance of 20km away from centres of learning.
Students at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University downed their books and pens last week in a bid to convince management to extend the contract with three outside residences.
They blocked the entrance and burnt tyres, accusing management of failing to adequately consult with them before announcing that they had to vacate these residences by January 2022 because it was not renewing contracts with the residences.
Allowing students to stay in these facilities beyond the expiry date of the existing agreement is illegal, and could, in all probability, pose serious legal risks to the university, said Makanetha.
He added that the building might collapse, and the university would be held accountable for not taking precautionary measures into consideration.
Students can have their own separate agreements with residences that will not involve the institution.
On Tuesday, students attempted closing the university entrance demanding management renew the contracts of Tshwane Varsity Lodge (TVL), The Heights and Drie Lillies.
The university has established a panel of Accommodation Service Providers for student residences, after following due process as prescribed in its Supply Chain Management (SCM) policy.
The three providers mentioned did not to meet the threshold requirements indicated in the specifications as evidenced during the evaluation of the bids, the education activist said.
Universities are legally bound to check whether the leased residents comply with norms and standards for safety of students, Makanetha said the residences didn’t meet these standards hence university refusal to renew the contract.
