Thousands of Port Elizabeth parents will ask the courts for an order compelling Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to meet its contractual obligations to students.
An Association of concerned parents and others was formed in Port Elizabeth Wednesday night to launch a class action against NMMU.
Grahamstown attorney, Brin Brody, said a letter of demand to open would be sent to the university on Friday, and, if ignored, an application would be lodged in Grahamstown by Tuesday.
More than 4000 people signed an online petition started by well-known PE advocate, Terry Price, leading to the legal action.
Brody said "in our view an urgent application needs to be brought to the High Court."
"We've now received the mandate from the Concerned Association of Parents and others for Tertiary Education at Universities and the application will be brought on an urgent basis in the High Court."
Answering questions from the media, Brody said the "university has an obligation to open" and to ensure the safety of students and staff.
He said NMMU "has an obligation to turn to the South African Police Services, private security companies to open the campus to look after the students and to continue with business based on contract and in our view based on the Consumer Protection Act."
He said they believe that NMMU could open as Rhodes University had, adding that there would be "enormous damages" if the university remained shut.
Brody used the example of a student who could potentially lose a corporate job offer because they could not complete their studies, saying that student would be able to bring a damages claim, not only for the fees for this year, but for future income.
"Our role is to act as lawyers for our clients and not as a political lobby group. This is not a political lobby group case, this is a legal matter," said Brody.
