- Target:
- University of South Africa
- Region:
- South Africa
- Website:
- www.facebook.com
In the first quarter of 2016 Unisa saw a rise in protest actions of #FeesMustFall and #OutsoursingMustFall movements that had swept through the country. A number of UNISA students and employees WERE being victimized and criminalized due to their participation in strike action for insourcing on the 4th of March 2016 which subsequently led to the suspension and dismissal of some of them. The issue has caught the attention of the Academic Professionals Staff Association Union and Unisa Black Forum particularly because those who were ostracized were students and employees who were at the forefront of the struggle for insourcing of casualized and marginalized black workers.
As Unisans would be aware, APSA and the Black Forum have supported the Council and University decision adopted on the 5 December 2015 to in-source casualised workers and our role has been active in driving the negotiations and deliberations that led the insourcing agreement adopted by the Multi Stakeholder Task Team (MSTT) and the University. Dr Boitumelo B. Senokoane who is today being victimized and criminalized by the university also happens to have been a member of the MSTT which has been an instrumental organ in overseeing the insourcing model. It is only fair to say that without the input and presence of this member at this MSTT, insourcing would not have been a success as it has proven to be.
It is in this light that we as APSA and the Unisa Black Forum would like to engage the Principal and the Chairperson of Council regarding the matter of Dr. Boitumelo B. Senokoane.
We, as Unisans, are of the view that: (a) All the charges against Dr Senokoane be dropped, and (b) That Dr Senokoane be allowed to return to the campus and work as any other staff member.
The struggle for insourcing was for social justice. The Unisa 2016-2030 Strategic Plan, in introducing the values Unisa holds, speaks: “… We also affirm our historical values of social justice and fairness as a constitutive element of dignity …” Most, if not all, of those who participated in the insourcing struggle and also had charges opened against them, are at this moment, back in campus. It is only Dr Senokoane who has not yet returned to campus. It for this reason that APSA and the Unisa Black Forum have embarked on this petition against the University to drop all charges against Dr Senokoane and allow him back on Campus.
We the Unisans of the Academic Professionals Staff Association (APSA) UNISA union and the UNISA Black Forum have joined forces to petition the University Management and Council to withdraw all disciplinary charges against Reverend Boitumelo Ben Senokoane. Dr Senokoane is a black academic and dedicated Unionist who is being silently victimised and criminalised for his involvement in the #Insourcing struggle at UNISA. APSA and Black Forum are of the view that the role of the academic is to stand against all forms of injustices perpetuated against vulnerable members of our UNISA community. That scholarship without the imperative for justice is meaningless and should be rejected in the quest for an African University shaping futures in the service for Humanity. We therefore need your signature in support of this petition and have all disciplinary charges against Dr Senokoane dropped and have him back on campus to resume his academic responsibilities like all other staff members. Your signature is not only a pledge of solidarity with academics that support the struggle for protecting vulnerable workers at our university but also a pledge to social justice for all UNISA employees and beyond.
Thank you for your participation!
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The Unisans for Justice for Dr Boitumelo B. Senokoane petition to University of South Africa was written by Nwabisa Sigaba and is in the category Justice at GoPetition.