WATCH: CPUT campus sealed off with barbed wire in CBD

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The Cape Town campus at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) was fenced off completely with barbed wire and no students were allowed to enter the premises yesterday. Following the recent clash between protesting students and security guards and the police, the university’s management said all campuses had been shut down until further notice. The issue of the suspension of four student leaders was dealt with on Tuesday. Students said yesterday the issues at hand now were the financial exclusions of students for next year, that the university suffered under maladministration and that an investigation of the institution’s management was needed.

CPUT student leader Lukhanyo Vanqa said the verdict was weird with an inconsequential sentence, and that it was a monumental waste of university resources and time.

“We were acquitted on all those charges; we were found guilty for disrespect and not rendering CPUT decision-making ineffective.

‘‘We have not been suspended, we were given a sentence of expulsion, but it’s wholly suspended - this sentence has no material effect, it comes with no conditions, it doesn’t affect or change anything, we can immediately go to class and continue our studies, our suspensions have been lifted.”

CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the campus would remain closed until further notice.

“It was a decision we took because it is an open university and property can be damaged,” she said.