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DUT Strike Debate provides more questions than answers

DUT Strike Debate provides more questions than answers

The answer to why some students at Durban University of Technology engage in violent strikes yearly has raised even bigger issues during the debate at the DUT’s Conference Centre on the Ritson Campus…

The answer to why some students at Durban University of Technology engage in violent strikes yearly has raised even bigger issues during the debate at the DUT’s Conference Centre on the Ritson Campus.

Crispin Hemson, who leads ICON (the International Centre of Nonviolence), worked with Pamela Tancsik, who teaches a Drama class, and students in the class, who presented their understanding of the role of different parties in the strike. The aim was to bring to the surface issues relevant to the strike, and provide a forum for staff and students to voice their opinions.

The play left the audience deeply divided; some student leaders justified why they strike in the manner in which they do, while other students challenged the handling of the strike, in particular the use of violence. Police officers from the local station explained that the SRC has a constitutional right to lead a strike but must keep in mind that it they cannot resort to criminal actions, as the police act under instructions and have to maintain public order. Later in the discussion, students supporting the SRC position walked out when Tholinhlanhla Ngubane’s microphone was taken away, in an attempt to give the platform to other students and members of staff.

However, the debate continued with some people expressing a view that student leadership should listen more rather than leave a meeting if they are to truly represent students, and much frustration over the tug of war between management and students. Perhaps the most general feeling was a sense that DUT needs a fresh approach from all sectors.

One perspective articulated was that the inheritance of anger by some young people makes them explode in counter-productive ways, leaving bleeding wounds in place of dialogue.

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