Statement from health sciences' faculty on postponement of 9 November meeting
Released: 13h00, 10 November 2015

The vice-chancellor was due to address the Faculty of Health Sciences on 9 November 2015 at 16h30, after the emergency Senate at 14h30. The deanery made the decision to postpone the meeting after events that occurred at the Senate meeting.

A group of students and workers disrupted the Senate meeting on Monday 9 November 2015. Members of this group verbally abused the vice-chancellor and other members of Senate. Water, water bottles, food and other objects were thrown at Senate members and members of the executive. The threats and verbal abuse continued when Dr Price and members of Senate vacated the Senate chamber.

The Dean?s Advisory Committee (DAC) places on record its strong condemnation of the behaviour of members of this group. Any protest that relies on violence, verbal and physical abuse has no place at UCT that has as its basis the pursuit of democracy and social justice.

We express our support for the vice-chancellor and management who continue to work tirelessly to find an amicable solution to the crisis at the university. The deplorable actions by the group who disrupted the Senate meeting seriously undermined the gains made by the collective student protest.

Regards,
Faculty Management
Faculty of Health Sciences