Turmoil as CJC college students protest in Alex
ALEXANDRA - CJC college students protest outside the gates of the college.
Protesting students from the Central Johannesburg College (CJC) Alex Campus have barricaded the road in front of the college gates and are demanding that the principal comes out to address the various matters affecting the institution.
Siphokazi Mpahlwana of the Youth Advisory Centre in 8th Avenue, who represents the protesting students, said the protest was sparked by fears in the community that the campus could soon be closed down following the moving of four of the nine courses from the Alex Campus to the Parktown CJC, without informing the students.
It is also believed that eight lecturers may also lose their jobs as a result. Some of the lecturers and students from other branches of the CJC colleges have joined the protest.
Mpahlwana estimated that more than 1 000 students, some of whom are existing students at the college, have been joined by new and prospective students who had come to the college to register for their studies.
She said the protest will go on for as long as the principal refuses to address them. “We had a meeting with him last week Thursday and he refused to talk to us on the pertinent matters and that meeting collapsed,” Mpahlwana said.
Alex police spokesperson, Captain Alie Kodisang confirmed the protest outside the gates, describing it as ‘a peaceful protest’ which barricaded the road outside the campus and students were burning tyres and toyi-toying.
“The situation is under control, and we have our men and women in blue there to monitor it and ensure it does not escalate and become violent,” he said.
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