Protesting students blockaded the main entrances to UKZN’s Westville campus recently. Recent violent demonstrations have caused R31m in damage to the institution.
Image: Supplied
The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s council has implored stakeholders to help 1,435 students settle their R72m historic debt, a portion of which must be paid before they will be allowed to register.

“All stakeholders have been implored to work together to raise the funds required to immediately help these students with payments required prior to registration, and also the funds required to settle their historic debt during the course of the academic year,” the council said on Wednesday.

The council said the university “could not provide free enrolment to every unfunded student whose annual family income is below R350,000, when even government policy on fully subsidised higher education does not provide such funding”.

The council said it had taken into consideration the “financial and cash flow implications of the concessions that are already in place and resolved that any additional financial clearance concessions would be self-defeating for all concerned”.

“The council also noted and welcomed the student leadership’s commitment towards raising funds for the affected students and their pledge to contribute a portion of the 2020 SRC budget towards this,” the council said.

In recent weeks the university has been plagued by violent protests which included incidents of arson at some of its campuses, as students voiced their anger about the historical debt issue.

Students were required to settled 15% of their historical debt before registering for the new academic year.

Vice-chancellor Nana Poku revealed this week that the violent demonstrations had resulted in R31m in damage to the institution.

Duduzane Zuma reportedly pledged an “undisclosed amount” of money recently to help students after receiving letters asking for financial assistance.

In a viral video, Zuma can be heard pleading with the students to stop burning buildings

The university experienced protest action at the beginning of the year related to the poor state of some of its residences and a lack of availability. Mthembu said that, as it stood, the university could accommodate only about 4,000 students and the rest of its student accommodation was outsourced.

Overall, the university has planned capital expenditure of R653m — far more than the R179m it spent in 2019.

“This is a whopping 265% increase at a DUT, where there is a culture of sweating our equipment dry,” said Mthembu. “Our equipment must also be state of the art. We are exploring lease options for equipment such as computers and vehicles that have limited shelf-life.”

Mthembu reflected on the university’s “lowest moment” — the death of Mlungisi Madonsela who was shot outside the university, allegedly by a security guard, during clashes between students and guards.

“When I think about 2019, the lowest point was when we lost a student in an unfortunate incident during which a staff member and many others were injured or threatened,” he said.

“What happened last year could have been done differently. What we are trying to do differently this year is co-ordinate much better with our internal security and with police because of the difficulty last year.”

Madonsela’s death is being reviewed by an independent commission of inquiry set by the university.

Eskom says there is an increased probability that load-shedding will be implemented on Thursday.

“There is an increased probability of load-shedding tomorrow as some generation units will be taken off the system to conduct emergency repairs,” the power utility said in a statement on Wednesday evening.

“As the system is constrained, vulnerable and unpredictable, any additional shift in generating performance could lead to load-shedding at short notice. We will utilise emergency reserves to supplement the supply overnight.”

Unplanned outages or breakdowns were at 11,773MW at 5.30pm on Wednesday, while planned maintenance was at 4,602MW.

“Eskom reminds South Africans that there is a possibility of increased load-shedding over the next 18 months as we are conducting critical maintenance to restore the ageing plants to good health. Every megawatt counts,” it added.

An emotional reunion between mother and son after the boy was found at Maponya Mall in Soweto.
Image: Noxolo Majavu/TimesLIVE
The Johannesburg pupil who was allegedly kidnapped outside his school two days ago has been found.

TimesLIVE is on the scene with the family of the 14-year-old boy at Maponya Mall in Soweto, where the boy was found.

The parents of the Queens High School pupil had received a phone call earlier on Wednesday at their Meadowlands home, telling them to rush to the nearby mall.

The parents along with other family members were reunited with the pupil behind closed doors in the mall’s security control room.

After a few minutes they emerged with the missing boy, his siblings supporting him on either side.

Still dressed in his school uniform, the boy was warmly embraced by his grandmother, who had been waiting outside the control room. The elderly woman cried and shouted praises to God as she held her grandson.

As the child came out of the control room, he too broke down in tears.

His emotional father cried out, expressing gratitude that his son had been found alive.

The grade 8 pupil was allegedly abducted on Monday while waiting for transport at the gate of the school, east of Johannesburg, the Gauteng education department said earlier.

The pupil’s family says a ransom of R500,000 was demanded. Earlier reports had stated that the amount was R5m.

“Subsequently, it is alleged that a ransom … had been demanded for his release,” said department spokesperson Steve Mabona. Police were alerted and began investigations.

A Spar owner has been ordered to pay almost R12m to his staff for making “unlawful” deductions and not complying with national minimum wage laws.

According to the labour department, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) granted eight arbitration awards against eight Spar outlets owned by a person identified only as “Mr Giannacoupolous”.

The awards, the department said in a statement, compel the franchisee to comply with various orders issued – and pay all complainants a total of R11,935,478. He has 14 days to make the payments.

“Failure to comply with the awards will result with the respondent having to pay accrued interest in terms of section 75 of Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA),” the department said.

The order comes after department conducted inspections in May 2019 and received a “series of complaints” of alleged gross violations of labour laws that were happening at Spar stores across the country.

“On investigation, all the stores which happened to be violating the labour laws were found to be owned by Mr Giannacoupolous,” the department said.According to the department, 10 stores were affected. Nine are based in Gauteng and one in the North West.

Issues raised in terms of labour laws’ violations included:

Failure by the employer to issue employees with contracts;
Long working hours without overtime compensation;
Sunday pay, public holidays and leave not granted according to the law;
The hiring of illegal foreigners; and
Illegal deductions.
The department conducted inspections at Spar Orchards, Dely Road, Doornport Spar, Montana Spar, Wierda Spar, Silverton Spar, Zambezi Super Spar, Rietfontein Spar, Silverplace Spar and Safari Spar in Rustenburg. These outlets employ 565 workers.

“The relentless work that is carried out by our inspectors is contributing towards making a difference in the lives of vulnerable workforce. I exhort employers to make it their business to respect and comply with the labour laws of our country,” said labour department’s inspector-general, Aggy Moiloa.