Mthatha - Students have been told to vacate the Walter Sisulu University, in the Eastern Cape, because of labour trouble, administrator Lourens van Staden said on Tuesday.

"The volatile situation that is unfolding has made it impossible for management to risk or to guarantee the safety and well-being of our students and the communities in which they live," he said in a statement.

"We therefore regret to announce that all students are to vacate university premises, university residences and university rented accommodation with immediate effect."

He said the labour deadlock had dragged on for five weeks.

"The response to the offer made by management to staff last week has not been sufficiently conclusive to enable classes to resume," Van Staden said.

"The university does not want to keep students waiting on campus indefinitely."

Van Staden said management would continue seeking ways to resolve the dispute.

"The decision to send students home does not mean that the academic year is lost," he said.

"All efforts will be made to put alternative arrangements in place in order to complete this second semester."