ACCUSATIONS and allegations are flying this week as a staff strike at the University of Zululand reaches its sixth week – with no sign of imminent relief.
But now university management has struck a blow that will likely be the catalyst that could either break, or intensify the strike.
Hlakaniphani Jamile, a lecturer of 13 years in the education faculty and National Education, Health and Allied Union (NEHAWU) UniZulu branch deputy secretary, was suspended on Monday.
Jamile has served as chief negotiator between management and the union in the deadlocked wage talks that precipitated the strike.
‘The accusations against me are unfounded and I feel it is just one of the tactics being used to weaken the union,’ Jamile said, an assertion the university denied in an emailed response to questions on Tuesday.
‘We are unable to publicly disclose his charges due to the conditions of employment contract and until the process is finalised,’ said Unizulu communications director, Gcina Nhleko.
The union however, has hit back as news of the suspension broke, saying they would not participate in any talks with management until Jamile was reinstated.
The university also instated a ‘no work, no pay’ policy and the union has reported that amounts were deducted from some salaries, despite the fact the strike action is protected.
Threat of violence
Meanwhile, a number of lecturers and staff have indicated to the Zululand Observer that they are feeling increasingly threatened by the presence of security guards outside lecture halls and the environment the ongoing strike has created.
They expressed similar concerns to those highlighted in a letter addressed to management and signed by 12 lecturers, which was given to the ZO.
‘This week, various lecturers have received threats of violence to both teachers and students if classes take place,’ read the letter.
‘We do not feel safe in our lecture rooms.’
The letter also raised issues with the ‘Learning Recovery Plan’ that was put in place to ensure students could catch up on their work after a two-week closure of the main campus in KwaDlangezwa.
Yet, students are the worst affected as the squabbles continue.
Those who returned after the closure to continue with their classes are finding life very tough, resulting in lecturers pleading with management to resolve the issues.
‘Because of the strike, students who have returned to campus are not being fed in their cafeterias. Already some of them are begging for money for food,’ the letter read.
‘The strike is still on. This seems a factor with which our management is no longer engaging.’
The university was asked for further comment on the issues of salary deductions and staff and student safety, but did not respond at the time of going to print.
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