UPDATE: University of Zululand grinds to a halt
Unizulu serves interdict on striking workers as lecturers, students sit at home
AS protests continue to rage at universities around the country, by stark contrast the University of Zululand has come to a grinding halt.
Lecturers on Tuesday morning reported to the Zululand Observer they were at home, while students said many of their fellow students were leaving the campus to go home.
The university on Monday obtained an interdict from the Durban Labour Court against striking workers, a strike which this week entered its eighth week.
The interdict effectively bars just over 530 workers who are members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) from coming within 500 metres of the main campus in KwaDlangezwa.
The ZO attempted to call the switchboard on a number of occasions, and tried some faculty office numbers – but there was no answer.
‘Things are getting tough at Unizulu since the strike started,’ one worker said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
‘Right now management is giving us two options, either we resign from NEHAWU or we won’t get paid, like last month,’ the worker said.
‘We have families to take care of, we have kids who need food. One really does not know which steps to take now. Some of us are scared of losing our jobs.’
Student leaders meanwhile reported that they have been mobilising at night, burning tires and marching.
They say they have instructed others not to damage university property, as set out in another interdict granted by the Durban High Court on Friday.
Spokesperson for the university, Gcina Nhleko, was not available for comment.
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