Johannesburg - Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande should intervene in a labour dispute at Witwatersrand University, the SA Communist Party said on Wednesday.
"We support the overtures by Nzimande to directly intervene at universities... we will lobby the minister to intervene at Wits urgently," SACP Johannesburg spokesperson Afrika Masoa said in a statement.
The institution has been plagued by a labour dispute between staff unions and management. The unions wanted more funds for research projects and a 9% wage increase. Management had offered 6.8% for support staff and 7.55% for academics.
Unions were also unhappy with the lack of parking space and childcare facilities.
A second strike by both academic and support staff took place on Tuesday.
The party was concerned by management's failure to resolve the ongoing wage dispute.
"We call upon vice-chancellor... Loyiso Nongxa to act decisively to save whatever is left of his reputation before his contract expires in six months' time."
The party accused Nongxa of being a "colossal failure".
"We support the overtures by Nzimande to directly intervene at universities... we will lobby the minister to intervene at Wits urgently," SACP Johannesburg spokesperson Afrika Masoa said in a statement.
The institution has been plagued by a labour dispute between staff unions and management. The unions wanted more funds for research projects and a 9% wage increase. Management had offered 6.8% for support staff and 7.55% for academics.
Unions were also unhappy with the lack of parking space and childcare facilities.
A second strike by both academic and support staff took place on Tuesday.
The party was concerned by management's failure to resolve the ongoing wage dispute.
"We call upon vice-chancellor... Loyiso Nongxa to act decisively to save whatever is left of his reputation before his contract expires in six months' time."
The party accused Nongxa of being a "colossal failure".
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