NMMU to reply to students' demands soon

Port Elizabeth – Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University on Friday said it had received four sets of demands from student groups.

"The university has now received four different petitions from various student formations, the latest of which was handed over at a mass meeting in the Kraal at lunch-time today,” it said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

"Management will be working through the various demands to provide a response to students by Monday," the statement reads.

Students were informed that there would be no classes on Monday and all operations would remain suspended.

Despite management’s best efforts to resume academic work on Monday, students had resisted and were determined to continue protests against fee increases.

The university said drastic steps could be taken, including suspending lectures for a longer period of time, if the situation on its campuses did not improve.

"Depending on the students’ response, and based on NMMU’s assessment of the situation on the ground, the university may be compelled to implement drastic measures going forward, including possibly suspending lectures until we can guarantee the safety of all our students and staff.”

It would make an announcement before the close of business on Monday.