Pretoria – Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has met with stakeholders at the University of Zululand in an attempt to find a solution to the labour dispute at the university.
Minister Nzimande met with the Chairperson of the University of Zululand, CV Gamede and National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) President, Mzwandile Makwayiba in a bid to try and assist the parties to find each other and end the two-month long strike.
The meetings were held separately on Thursday and Friday, where Minister Nzimande emphasised the importance for the university to resume and complete the academic programme, despite the labour dispute which he said can be resolved through dialogue.
“The Minister felt that he should play some role in trying to assist the parties to find each other even if he is not allowed to do so by law,” the department said in a statement.
Minister Nzimande noted that he had decided to get involved at an informal level to try assist the parties involved in the labour dispute.
“I am equally aware of the fact that as the Minister of Higher Education, I cannot get involved in a labour dispute in a university. However, the labour dispute which has been under mediation of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has not yielded any results and we are nearing the end of the year, which is a critical time in higher education,” said Minister Nzimande.
The two parties agreed to form a six member committee to work towards a solution and resumption of the academic programme. - SAnews.gov.za
