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Protesting Walter Sisulu University staff have been barred from university campuses.
This follows a warning of a lockout by Administrator Professor Lourens van Staden.
The workers downed tools last week demanding an 8-10% wage hike, but management says it can only afford 4.5 percent.
WSU spokesperson Angela Church says with a payroll that consumes almost 75% of the university's budget, there is insufficient funding to meet all the other operational and capital costs.
However, she has assure that money has been set aside to pay monthly salaries as well as creditors.
