Sanele Ndlovu

Contact classes have been put on hold following the recent violent strike in one of the Durban University of Technology Midlands campuses.

On Tuesday, the community of Imbali in Pietermaritzburg held a march to Indumiso campus demanding the university to hire them for the renovations of the institution.

The reason behind the community strike is said to be the alleged exclusion of local community members in the project of roof renovations that is taking place on campus.   The community  is accusing  the University of depriving them with job opportunities.

One community member, Sakhile Zulu said that they are angry at the institution for not putting the local community first. “We are here not working, but they do not hire us. Instead, they take people from other places,” said Zulu.

The community burned tyres outside the campus but no damage was done and there were no cases reported of injured people.

The University then suspended contact learning for students yesterday with an aim of not risking student’s lives and staff members.

An SRC member who asked his name not to be revealed said that the academic activities were not badly affected. They continued with online learning yesterday and today the situation has calmed down.  Although some of the students are still scared but the coast is clear.

The efforts of getting the university to comment on the issue were not successful.

Picture:Polomap, South Africa