Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Mr Buti Manamela was confident that the salary impasse at the Durban University of Technology will be resolved by the end of this week (02 March 2018), as all parties agreed to reopen negotiations with a new framework for the mediation process.

Manamela led a high-level meeting which was attended by the leadership of all three unions (NEHAWU, NTEU & TENUSA), Council EXCO and DUT Management on Tuesday, 27 February 2018 on the ML Sultan Campus in Durban. FEDUSA was also in attendance, representing NTEU and TENUSA at a national level.

All parties had agreed that negotiations should recommence, in an attempt to ensure that normal operations are restored at the University, and to catch up on lost time, particularly on the academic programme and to complete student registrations. Those negotiations started yesterday (Wednesday, 28 February 2018).

Speaking after the meeting on Tuesday Manamela said, “I must report that the parties have made a breakthrough, they have agreed to resume the negotiations through a bargaining process mediated by the CCMA, immediately after the Unions report back to the workers. Those negotiations should be concluded before the end of the week (02 March 2018).”

Manamela assured students who had not been registered because of the strike, that they will be given an opportunity to register.

“The University will be revising its academic calendar, which will include putting in place interventions that will ensure that students catch up on lost time,” said Manamela.

Manamela emphasized that it was important for all parties to understand that in order to reach a resolution on this dispute, there had to be a compromise. “My role here was not to get the parties to agree on the nitty-gritties of what is at dispute. My role was to ensure that we restore the institution to normality, we start the academic programme and we resume negotiations. I think all the parties have assisted us to achieve that,” explained Manamela.

Manamela also applauded all parties for their attitude towards this Ministerial led intervention. “I really want to thank all the parties for approaching this with an open mind, and also helping us to reach a solution,” said Manamela.

Pictured: Mr Wiseman Madinane (DUT Chairperson of Council) and Buti Manamela (Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Training) during the five-hour meeting held yesterday at ML Sultan.

Nduduzo Ndlovu