The University of Cape Town has been closed for the past week to give time for negotiations between the university management and the protesting students. The hope is to re-start lectures tomorrow (Monday, 3 October). It sounds like the final set of talks did not go well and we are currently waiting on a decision about tomorrow.
This has been a stressful week on campus with many meetings between staff and students. I attended five meetings this last week with various different groupings of students and staff. The students (non-protesting) and staff held a silent protest on Friday (see link below) to re-open the campus, which was then counter-protested.
It is hard to gauge what will happen tomorrow, possibilities range from further closures to violence between protesters and private security or police. The academics in the Physics department (including me) are preparing to step between security and students if violence becomes a possibility. Please pray for the UCT campus tomorrow (actually tonight, classes will start at 8 am here, or 1 am CST), that peace will reign. I will keep you posted, Steve
UPDATE: The Vice Chancellor has just announced that lectures will resume Monday with security present to deal with any disruptions. Please pray.
More Information
UCT Silent Protest (look for me in the first picture next to the yellow sign)
Shackville TRC (primary protest group)
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