Deputy Speaker, the strike at Walter Sisulu University, WSU, lasted seven weeks. As at September 2013, 1 800 university staff members have been on strike for 34 working days which equates to 61 200 man days. Let me take this opportunity and apologise to the nation and, in particular, to the students who have lost valuable academic time during this period. Last month I led a delegation on behalf of the Ministry comprising the director-general and senior officials from the university education branch in the department to engage with unions and student leaders in our quest to resolve the impasse. The bulk of our officials' pre-occupation over the last two months has been on finding solutions so that learning can be restored at the university.
I must also add that if WSU was a business, it would simply have been liquidated and closed down given its financial status but, given the fact that this is an educational institution of national importance, the government has agreed to rather fight for its existence and support it to turnaround and become sustainable.
On 6 September 2013, the university management and labour movements, National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, Nehawu, and National Tertiary Education Union, Nteu, agreed in principle to end the labour impasse. On Monday the lockout applied by the WSU management after the labour unions declared the strike on 23 July 2013 was lifted. Management informed all the students that the lockout would be lifted on Monday, 9 September 2013. Yesterday classes resumed and I have spoken to the administrator this morning, Professor Van Staden, and he has confirmed that learning has resumed.
A catch-up plan has been developed that includes the realignment of the academic calendar as approved by the senate to ensure that all lost work is recovered, and that a programme is implemented to assist students to successfully complete the 2013 academic year. This brings to an end the protracted industrial action which led to the loss of 32 academic days and affected 24 613 students. Once again we regret that such industrial action lasted for so long, but we remain committed to the cause of ensuring that WSU becomes financially stable and academically viable. This also entails that stakeholders pull together to ensure that the core business of learning is sustained. Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker.