Condolences on passing of mature student
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is aware of the protest action earlier today (Thursday, 07 April 2016) at the Robin Crest student residence near the Doornfontein Campus, and the University’s Student Affairs officials have been interacting with the small group involved.
At the same time, the University has expressed its condolences on the passing earlier in the week of a mature student who lived in the same residence. According to his family, with whom the University has been interacting since he passed away on Tuesday, the 45-year old student from Zambia had a history of heart and respiratory illness.
The protest at Robin Crest relates to maintenance issues specific to the residence. UJ Student Affairs officials have accepted a list of concrete maintenance issues from the small number of protesting students at the residence.
Emergency maintenance of the lifts has already been undertaken. They are working, and are currently under ongoing technical surveillance to ensure that they continue doing so.
The University in February 2016 launched an accelerated maintenance and upgrade plan across all of its buildings and campuses, with a specific focus on ensuring an enhanced quality of living within all residences.
The programme is underway, and will also help ensure that all of the issues raised by the protesting students today will be addressed as soon as possible.
