1 June 2015
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to inform you that the occupation of management’s offices on the 11th floor of Senate House ended peacefully on Friday morning.
The occupation by about eight workers of MJL Electrical, a company that provided electrical services to Wits and some students lasted for two days.
The group was demanding that the University employ the workers who lost their jobs due to mismanagement by the owner of the company.
The University secured a court order to evict the group but they left voluntarily on Friday. No charges will be brought against workers and students who occupied the offices.
The University will be approaching private companies on the vendor list to request them to employ these workers where possible.
The students have agreed to respond to the Vice-Chancellor’s call for comment on transformation at Wits, including the insourcing versus outsourcing issue.
The activities of the University continue as usual.
Prof. Tawana Kupe
Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Wits University
