MASERU — The High Court is today expected to hear an application by students seeking to force authorities at Limkonkwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) to re-open the university.
The university was closed for an indefinite period on September 16 following student demonstrations.
The students were protesting against poor lack of internet services, lack of books and delays in disbursing their allowances.
They also alleged that most of the lecturers at the university were under-qualified as they only held first degrees.
The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) wants the High Court to force authorities at the university to re-open the institution.
In papers filed at the High Court last week the students’ lawyer, Khotso Nthontho, said the LUCT decision to shut down the university would prejudice the students as they were losing out on “invaluable lectures”.
Nthontho wants the High Court to order the university to show cause why the decision to close down the institute should “not be declared null and void”.
He also wants the LUCT deputy registrar and the university management to be directed to “let applicants and students of LUCT to have peaceful and undisturbed access to the premises, and buildings” pending finalisation of this case.
The lawyer also wants the university to be restrained from expelling members of the SRC from their office on the campus to allow them to execute their duties.
In his opposing affidavit, Limkonkwing Deputy Registrar Moroke Hoohlo said the students’ demonstration got out of hand leaving the authorities with no choice but to temporarily shut down the university.
“(The demonstration) got out of hand to an extent that third respondent’s (the university) property was damaged,” Hoohlo said in his opposing affidavit.
“Students began intimidating and chasing those in classes out and singing within the campus just by the doors of management office.
“This unruly conduct greatly hampered the business of the school and the very deliberations that were going on between the parties here whilst greatly threatening security and safety of other students and people on campus.”
Hoohlo also said there was no resolution from the student community mandating the SRC to institute this court case.
He said the applicants were acting arbitrarily “on behalf” of students.
He said the students were not “mandated by the students’ body (by a) resolution which none is present in the present case,” Hoohlo said.
He said the students’ grievances at the university could best be solved in-house.
Hoohlo denied that Education Minister ’Mamphono Khaketla had told the students to go to their mothers’ places, intimidated or insulted them.
“The correct version is that the honourable minister and the rest of the management whilst it was evident that there was impasse, recommended that those students that wanted to continue with the studies they do so whilst those that did not should go home.
“This was a recommendation to try and curtail the then prevailing rowdiness that ultimately got out of hand,” Hoohlo said.
