Fort Hare nursing students may be barred for the year

The nursing department faces permanent closure for this academic year after management said no student would be allowed back unless they brought their parents or guardians by August 30.

Late last month, university vice-chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu issued a notice closing the department of nursing sciences with immediate effect.

The notice further instructed students to stay away from the East London campus and only return on Wednesday last week.

They were to report to the advancement offices with their parents or guardians before they would be allowed to continue with their studies.

The university also obtained a court order to interdict SRC members, union Denosa, the student's nursing council and 13 students.

The order sought to interdict the respondents from intimidating, harassing, threatening, injuring or harming the staff, security personnel and any other employee of the university.

The university closed for the third quarter late last month.

Academic programmes were already disrupted as all the students embarked on a stayaway.

SRC president Mosuli Cwele said it was impossible for students to bring their parents.

He said they were still going to meet with the management in an attempt to resolve the matter.

Student organisations at the campus ANCYL, Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania and EFFCS have since pledged their support for the nursing students.

University spokesman Khotso Moabi was not available for comment at the time of writing.