Rhodes University has temporarily suspended part of its academic programme on Friday, 30 August 2024, in response to ongoing disruptions to the municipal water supply in Makhanda.
The suspension includes all formal undergraduate lectures, tutorials, and practicals, according to a statement released by the University.
The water crisis has severely affected the campus which has been without municipal water since Friday, 23 August 2024.
In response, the University has provided water via tankers to essential areas, including kitchens, residences, academic buildings, and offices. Despite these efforts, the situation has become increasingly untenable, with serious concerns raised over individual hygiene, health, and study conditions.
Despite all these efforts, individual hygiene, health, and study conditions are affected and are increasingly at risk. Access to water and sanitation is an internationally recognised human right linked to an acceptable standard of living.
Rhodes Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela expressed deep concern over the ongoing water outages in Makhanda, highlighting the detrimental impact on students, staff, visitors, and the broader academic programme.
He said reports suggest the crisis may be linked to potential sabotage as part of industrial action within the municipality.
Reports connect the current crisis to potential sabotage to support industrial action in the municipality. Water availability in Makhanda is not the cause of the problem. This justifies firm leadership intervention and urgent dispute resolution between the municipality and its employees.
The University, as Makhanda’s largest employer and ratepayer, is preparing to take significant steps to address the crisis.
The situation will significantly influence the University’s future action as the institution strives to mitigate risk emanating from such unpredictable actions while strengthening self-sufficiency
In the interim, the university has procured additional capacity to distribute water both on and off campus, with these measures expected to be implemented immediately. The University also escalated the issue to the Office of the Provincial Premier, Mr Oscar Mabuyane, calling for urgent attention to the matter.
The University is calling on all involved parties to consider the long-term consequences of their actions on the viability of Makhanda as a whole. It is unacceptable that the whole community and institutions suffer due to the actions—or inaction—of a few that undermine human rights and dignity.
