Violent protests at UKZN

NATIONAL NEWS - Following violent protests by University of KwaZulu-Natal students, who torched a building at Howard College and also damaged property at the institution, various authorities, such as the University Risk Management Services, Public Order Policing, SAPS and emergency services, have been working tirelessly to safeguard the campuses and apprehend those responsibly.

Among the grievances, the protesters are demanding that all students be allowed to register even those with a historic debt at the institution.

At the Westville campus, protesters set fire to a section of the gymnasium and a mobile office.

Meanwhile, at the Pietermaritzburg campus, protesters threw stones and bottles at vehicles on a public road and set fire to a guardhouse as well as a kitchen, attached to a student examination hall.

Fire and emergency services managed to extinguish the fire. The exam hall luckily did not catch alight.

The institution’s executive director of the corporate relations division, Ashton Bodrick, said, “University Risk Management Services have locked down certain areas of the campuses at night, increased the number of security staff deployed and is conducting frequent checks at student residences.”

He confirmed that the office building of the campus HIV and Aids Support Unit (CHASU) on the Howard College campus was set alight on Monday afternoon.

“This is an office building and not a wellness centre or clinic, as it has been reported by various media. The university strongly denounces all acts of criminal behaviour. University RMS and SAPS are investigating all incidents of assault, destruction of property and arson. Several arrests have been made since the start of the protest action,” added Bordick.

Due to disruptions on the UKZN Edgewood campus on the morning of 4 February, university management has decided to suspend the academic programme on the campus for the remainder of the day.