Workers at DUT to return to work

© Gustavo Frazao – 123RF.com

The Deputy Minister said he was very pleased and relieved that DUT can now begin the 2018 academic programme.

“I would like to thank all the parties for putting the interest of students and workers alike and reaching an agreement. I urge all the students who had left campus to return to campus and work towards their qualifications," Deputy Minister Manamela said.

The parties in the labour dispute at the university agreed on Wednesday to go back to negotiations, thereby concluding a seven-week strike that has resulted in valuable tuition time being lost.

The strike ended a day after Deputy Minister Manamela held a meeting with the university council and management, as well as the labour unions who were involved in the labour dispute.

The historic outcome of the negotiation came when all parties agreed to go back to negotiations with the aim of bringing the labour dispute to an end.

It is due to the commitment of the DUT Executive Committee, labour unions, including National the Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) and The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA), as well as all parties involved that the best possible outcome has emerged.