Cosatu Western Cape is disturbed and concerned about the recent attack and forced evictions of students at the University of the Western Cape.

The violence and injuries that we have seen are alarming and unbecoming at an Institution of Higher Learning. We are calling on UWC to refrain from involving the Police and private security Companies, because they are not dealing with criminals.

We furthermore also calling on the management of UWC and its Community to go to the table with the aim and objective to find a solution to the impasse. Management should create a safe learning and working environment at the Institution and not criminalising the plight of Students.

We are appealing to the parties at UWC to step back from the brink and de-escalate the situation because the use of force will not solve what is fundamentally a complex situation of public health, vaccines, and student holiday homelessness and hunger. The violence at UWC must stop and that the parties should find ways to address the challenges students are currently confronted with.

We are also calling on the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande to intervene and to bring normality at our Institution of Learning.

For questions, please call Malvern De Bruyn – 060 977 9027 or Motlatsi Tsubane – 074 482 6180