Lectures resume at UKZN
Lectures at UKZN have commenced following a protest which allegedly resulted in R500 000 worth of damages.
THE academic programme continued on all UKZN campuses on Tuesday morning after a protest which erupted at the UKZN Westville campus forced lectures, to be suspended on Monday, 10 October.
On Monday, a video showing students throwing stones and flipping a car inside the campus went viral on social media.
According to reports, protesting students said they felt that the Westville campus was not represented when the management and student leaders of four other campuses met to discuss issues affecting the students including the #FeesMustFall campaign.
The protests have caused division as some students want lectures to resume so they can write their year-end exams.
A first year student who spoke to the Highway Mail said the protesting students should let those who want to study attend lectures.
“We are all for #feesmustfall but I am against the unfair manner in which these protests are being held. Damaging learning centres will not help this campaign, millions of Rands worth of damage have been caused by this #feesmustfall campaign around the country. What happened to peaceful protesting?” she said.
Lesiba Seshoka, executive director of corporate relations at UKZN said in a press statement on Tuesday that there were some reports of student protest action on the Westville and Howard College campuses.
“On the Westville campus, protesters attempted to disrupt lectures and damaged some amenities at a residence. On the Howard College campus, a group of protestors were singing and chanting on Tuesday.”
Seshoka said the Pietermaritzburg campus experienced violent protest action from late Monday afternoon until the early hours of Tuesday morning. “Protestors threw stones, causing damage to building windows, an entrance gate and an office. The protesters also set an office at the centre for Visual Arts building alight. ” The fire was extinguished by the fire department. Six students were arrested by SAPS.
“The Howard College and Westville campuses experienced disruptions which led to a suspension of the academic programme on those campuses on Monday afternoon.”
University management has cautioned protesters to desist from engaging in unlawful protest action. “Action will be taken against any individuals found to be in contravention of the High Court interdict in place.
”A strong security presence is being maintained on all of our campuses,” added Seshoka.
