DURBAN University of Technology managment has slammed a faction of students for embarking on an illegitimate strike on Thursday morning.
Classes had to be suspended at DUT when a group of students wearing Economic Freedom Front t-shirts protested inside the Steve Biko campus.
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Private security was called in to disperse the students.
One video posted on social media shows a private security guard chasing down a female student and seemingly pushing her to the ground before shoving her into a security vehicle.
Students who spoke to Berea Mail on condition of anonymity said they were protesting for students who were still not registerd, had not been allocated residences and had not received their allowances.
Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT, said the people protesting were not part of the official Student Representative Council.
“At the last meeting that was held late yesterday afternoon, 12 February, the SRC did not express any desire to shut down the University,” he said. “DUT would like to distance itself from any other formations who are masquerading as the University’s student leadership.”
Khan said the university management is open to negotiating with the official SRC on any issues.
Cebolenkosi Buthelezi, a member of DUT’s SRC, offered no comment when asked if the SRC was behind Thursday’s protest.
Buthelezi said the SRC would hold a media briefing in upcoming days to address any outstanding issues.
According to Colonel Thembeka Mbele of SAPS, charges of public violence and contravention of a court order are being investigated by Berea SAPS. A total of five suspects were arrested and are expected to appear in Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
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