The knives are out for the embattled acting CEO of the Vhembe FET, Dr Gogome Tshifularo, and his management team.

This was the message during a march last Wednesday (6/2), which saw almost the whole workforce at the main campus in Makwarela downing tools. All services came to a standstill when students also joined staff members in solidarity with their demands and marched from the main campus to the institution's central office in Sibasa.

The marchers, who waved placards with messages denouncing the leadership of Tshifularo, sang and danced to freedom songs and anti-Tshifularo songs throughout. On arrival at the central office, the marchers handed over a memorandum, detailing their demands to Tshifularo and his management.

The marchers were addressed by the leadership of all progressive structures in the Vhembe region. A contingent of police officers maintained a presence throughout the march.

The memorandum contained almost the same demands that staff had handed to management last year. Central to their demands is the lifting of the suspension of members of the union who were suspended without being charged, and the resignation of the college rector, Dr Tshifularo, and his management team, whom they accused of corruption and mismanagement.

They also presented a list of issues that they want investigated, which include tender irregularities, among others, and an investigation of the college's finances by the public protector and state security agency, as well as the Hawks.

Addressing the marchers, Mashudu Maboho of Cosatu said they had tried everything in the book to avert the march, but their efforts to resolve the matters in a better way were met with arrogance by the management.

Mr Eric Chauke, the regional deputy-chairperson of Nehawu, said the management had failed and was incompetent and should just resign.

Tshifularo received the memorandum and said it would be passed on to the relevant authorities. He later said he would not resign as he had been brought by the department to work there "and I will serve here until my term expires."