ARMED POLICE ENTER COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Armed police once again entered college campuses in Swaziland as students across the kingdom boycotted classes in protest against unpaid government allowances and poor educational standards.

On Monday (2 October 2017) a police officer was badly injured when a stun grenade he held exploded in his hand.

Police were at the kingdom’s state university, the University of Swaziland (UNISWA); the private university, Limkokwing; and also at the William Pitcher teacher training college.

Campuses have been closed and reopened across Swaziland several times since the semester began nearly two months ago. The Government had promised to pay all allowances by the end of September but this had not been done. Swaziland, which is ruled by King Mswati III, who is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, is in financial crisis. Bills to suppliers remain unpaid and government health facilities have run out of drugs.

At UNISWA, which reopened after the administration sent students home following a class boycott, students were told that the mid-semester break and reading week had been cancelled in order to make up for lost time. The university has banned the Student Representative Council (SRC) from holding meetings.

The Swazi Observer reported on Tuesday (3 October 2017), ‘Sakhile Ndzimandze who is the Secretary General for the dissolved SRC informed students about the latest developments saying that the university decided to send them home for raising genuine concerns and have again called them back to class. He said they were worried that none of their concerns including allowances were addressed but instead the university added petrol into a blazing flame.’

The William Pitcher Teacher Training College was closed on Monday after students boycotted classes. College administrators immediately issued a memorandum informing them that they should vacate the premises. Armed police were called to escort students from the college.

The Times of Swaziland reported that an officer from the riot squad the Operational Support Service Unit (OSSU) injured his hand at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology when a stun grenade prematurely went off.

It said, ‘There were fears that the officer might have had his hand chopped off, judging from the intensity of the blast. It went off as some students stood near the institution’s gate while others were singing and chanting by Ka-Sonny Shopping Complex.’

Last week the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) was closed after student protests. The Swaziland Christian Medical University remains closed after the Ministry of Education ruled  did not meet approved standards.

See also

ARMED POLICE END STUDENT PROTEST

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/armed-police-end-student-protest.html

STUDENTS ARRESTED AT COURT HOUSE

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/students-arrested-at-court-house.html

SWAZI STUDENT LEADERS ARRESTED

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/swazi-student-leaders-arrested.html

POLICE ‘TORTURE’ STUDENTS IN CELLS

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/police-torture-students-in-cells.html

PROTESTS CLOSE SWAZILAND UNIVERSITY

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/protests-close-swaziland-university.html

ARMED POLICE END STUDENT PROTEST

Armed police escorted students from a Swaziland college off the campus after they complained about the quality of their food.

Now, the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) has been closed indefinitely after a class boycott.

The Swazi Observer reported on Wednesday (27 September 2017) that students vandalised property. The students had entered the kitchen at breakfast time as part of a protest.

The newspaper said the main grievance of the students was shrinking food portions at meal times and unpaid allowances. 

The Times of Swaziland reported, ‘According to students who spoke on condition of anonymity, it all started during breakfast when they were told that there was no more milk for their soft porridge.

‘Other reported irregularities are said to be that some students were served eggs as protein during lunch while others were dished meat. 

‘They said this had been going on for some time and when they enquired from the college authorities about the matter, they were told that the institution had no money.’

See also

STUDENTS ARRESTED AT COURT HOUSE

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/students-arrested-at-court-house.html

POLICE ‘TORTURE’ STUDENTS IN CELLS

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/police-torture-students-in-cells.html

PROTESTS CLOSE SWAZILAND UNIVERSITY

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/protests-close-swaziland-university.html

COLLEGES SNUB STUDENT LEADERS

Student leaders in Swaziland are complaining that universities and colleges in the kingdom are refusing to allow them to represent their constituents.

The Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS), a national body that is not recognised by the Government, says a number of tertiary institutions fail to recognise duly-elected Student Representative Councils (SRCs). Instead, SNUS said in a statement, the administrations in many of them choose students themselves to be the spokesperson for their colleagues.

SNUS Secretary General Dlamini Stacky said, ‘It has come to our attention that some tertiary institutions are still operating like “farms” as students are continuously repudiated freedom of expression and right to representation. This is evidenced by various tertiary administrations’ failure to recognize Student Representative Councils (SRCs) as legitimate bodies put up to champion student’s issues.

‘What is of shock and embarrassment is the fact that these bodies were democratically elected by the studentry to be their voices.’

SNUS listed a number of tertiary education institutions that were ignoring duly-elected student leaders.

Stacky added, ‘As we speak tertiary institutions like Good Shepherd have no SRCs not because the students do not want such structure to be in place but it is due to arrogant repressive uncooperative dictating administration.

‘We are reliably informed that in Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, the SRC is not taken seriously as the institution’s administration works hand in hand with imposed ambassadors who tend to be rumour mongers and spies of the administration.

‘We are aware of the compromise of SRCs in colleges like William Pitcher and Ngwane as the Dean of Student Affairs play double roles; that of being a lecturer (who carries a red pen) and that of being an office addressing student’s concerns.

‘SRC members work in fear of victimization as the officer vehemently threatens them not to question anything seen to be maladministrative or face suspension, failure if not expulsion.

‘Institutions like SANU (Southern Africa Nazarene University), SCOT (Swaziland College of Technology)  and UNISWA (University of Swaziland) treat SRCs as “political minded confused kids” who are incapacitated to lead, this is displayed during elections.

‘The administrations always want to put their own deployed stooges into positions and if such does not materialize, they either halt student’s operations by frustrating them financially or delay hand-over so they can shorten their period of office.’

See also

STUDENTS TOLD: NAME STRIKE LEADERS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/10/students-told-name-strike-leaders.html

SWAZILAND STUDENT UNREST SPREADS

Student unrest is spreading across Swaziland.

Yesterday (14 February 2012), the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) was closed indefinitely, following class boycotts by students.

Meanwhile, boycotts of classes are ongoing at the University of Swaziland.

Both sets of students are angry with the Swazi Government for not paying them their due allowances. Swaziland is on the brink of financial meltdown and the government is finding it increasingly difficult to pay its bills.

Armed police fired teargas on students at SCOT where about 120 third-year students are demanding about E7 000 each which they said was supposed to have been part of their allowances while they were on attachment with different companies during the last academic year.

SCOT principal Casper Dube decided to close the college indefinitely.

Local media report that about 50 officers and four police Casper vehicles were parked at the entrance of the college. Close to 50 other officers were found stationed inside SCOT carrying guns and batons.

SWAZI STUDENTS WIN FIRST ROUND

Striking students at the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) won a major concession in their fight to defend one of their leaders who is being victimised.

Casper Dube, SCOT Principal, has assured students that Alex Horton, Student Representative Council (SRC) Secretary General, will not be expelled from the college.

Horton was victimised by the college following student protests last week that saw strikes at colleges and the University of Swaziland and a mass march on government to protest at a new scholarship policy that is being introduced without consulting students.

A student strike started at SCOT immediately the news of Horton’s suspension became known. Horton is the only student at the college to be disciplined over the protest. He faces seven chargers, including one that he allowed a guest to take cups out of the college refectory.

SCOT students returned to classes yesterday (16 February 2011). According to a report in the Swazi Observer today, SCOT Principal Dube called all class representatives and told them that Horton would not be expelled.

Hoxton faces a disciplinary committee at SCOT tomorrow (Friday).

See also

SWAZI STUDENT LEADER VICTIMISED

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/02/swazi-student-leader-victimised.html

SWAZI STUDENT LEADER VICTIMISED

First came the student protest: now comes the victimisation.

Last week, students at Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) joined with other tertiary college and university students in a strike and a march to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, where they delivered a petition calling for the revoking of the proposed Scholarship Policy.

The University of Swaziland’s three campuses, the William Pitcher Teachers’ Training College and Ngwane Teachers’ Training College were also involved in the protest.

Immediately classes resumed the SCOT Administration victimised Alex Horton, the acting Secretary General of SCOT Student Representative Council (SRC).

Anyone who knows the history of colleges and the university in Swaziland will not be surprised that SCOT charged him with calling a meeting of students without the college’s permission. Nor, would anyone be surprised that he was charged also with giving a ‘directive/instruction’ to students to boycott classes.

But we can tell SCOT is trying to bully Horton, because it also charged him with allowing a guest to take a broom without permission. He is also charged with letting a guest take cups from the college refectory. Horton faces seven charges in total.

Horton is the only student at SCOT suspended from class.

Other students at SCOT said Horton was being victimised and immediately started a strike.

Yesterday (15 February 2011), SCOT students staged a peaceful demonstration outside the administration block where they sang songs calling for Horton’s suspension to be lifted.

The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, reported SRC member Siphosihle Tsabedze saying the students met in the morning to deliberate on Horton’s suspension and it was decided that they confront the administration over the issue.

‘No faculties are in class today. What we want is for Horton to return to class and only then will we also go back,’ Tsabedze told the Times.

He said the students believed Horton did nothing wrong to deserve a suspension because he had helped save the institution’s property on the day of the march.

‘Horton was suspended for addressing students and telling them to protect the institution’s property. He said, for the safety of the infrastructure, no one should go to class,’ Tsabedze, who is the SRC’s finance minister, said.

He said besides Horton’s suspension, they also submitted two other issues to the administration and these include the unavailability of internet services and the E50 fee paid by students for their identity cards.

‘We last had access to the internet in October last year,’ he said.

A disciplinary hearing for Horton is set for Friday (18 February 2011).

SWAZI COLLEGES CLOSED - UPDATE

The following is a report from the Times of Swaziland (the kingdom’s only independent daily newspaper) today (3 February 2010) concerning the closure of tertiary colleges following student protests.

MBABANE – Four colleges have been closed indefinitely owing to unprecedented uproar as students demanded increased personal allowances.

The four colleges are the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT), Ngwane Teachers College, Nazarene Teachers Training College and William Pitcher.

Most affected was SCOT, which was still assessing the cost of damage incurred when rioting students vandalised property on Monday.

SCOT Principal Casper Dube said the college was closed by the students. ‘It is the students who refused to go to class.

‘They said they would return after Parliament had passed a law for the increase in allowances. This left us without an option but to close the college because the mandate of the students is to learn not to boycott classes.’

Dube said the college was still assessing the worth of damage incurred.

William Pitcher Deputy Principal Philemon Gumedze said the college administration issued a memorandum informing all pupils that the college had been closed indefinitely yesterday.

‘The students boarded buses in the morning and left for Mbabane.

‘They will know that the college was closed when they return. Some who remained behind have already left for home. We do not know how long the college will close, but all will depend on the student’s willingness to learn,’ he said.

Ngwane Teacher Training College Principal Amos Mahlalela also confirmed that the college had been closed indefinitely yesterday.

This was after almost all students boarded buses to Mbabane, where they intended to meet Ministry of Education and Training officials.

‘There was nothing we could do to make them go back to class. You can take a horse to the river, but cannot force it to drink. We have reported to the ministry and subsequently closed the college,’ he said.

About five people caused the closure of Nazarene Teachers Training College.

It is said that the people who posed as students from different tertiary institutions stormed the college at about 10am, demanding that their colleagues join them in a march.

Seeing that they might vandalise property, the college’s principal who only wanted to be identified as make Mbingo, said they called the police who arrived promptly.

‘When they saw the police, they ran away. And that is when we got a chance to address our students.

‘In order to protect their lives and property, we informed our students that the college will be closed indefinitely,’ Mbingo said.

The closure of the colleges brings to five the number of institutions of higher learning which closed this year, after the University of Swaziland.

Link http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=14096