Classes suspended at UKZN
Lectures have been suspended for two days at all UKZN campuses after students embarked on violent protests on Thursday.
THE University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) campuses of Westville, Howard, Edgewood and Pietermaritzburg experienced serious violent protests yesterday morning and has since suspended lectures at all the university’s campuses.
Paramedics on scene of the protests yesterday at the Westville UKZN campus said they have treated two patients who have been injured with fortunately only minor injuries, during the confrontations that occurred earlier in the morning between students and police.
“The one patient was a student, while the other was a police officer. A third patient was transported privately from the scene before paramedics arrived on the scene,” said Emergency Medical Services, spokesman Robert Mckenzie.
The paramedics said police and private security companies were still on the scene and that the situation seems to have calmed down from Thursday morning when students set fires at various campuses.
“The Westville campus in particular was not accessible to University staff as well as students who reside outside campus.
The Executive Management Committee deliberated on the situation On Thursday morning and took a decision to suspend the academic programme on all campuses for Thursday and Friday this week. The academic programme will resume on Monday, 8 September,” said UKZN spokesperson, Lesiba Seshoka.
The University regrets the inconvenience caused and apologises to all students whose commitments have been interrupted by the unfortunate activities of a handful of disruptive elements Seshoka added.
The SAPS and the University’s Risk Management Services are keeping an eye on the situation while discussions with students are ongoing according to Seshoka.
