STUDENTS at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Westville Campus experienced yet another violent protest as lectures were disrupted on Friday morning.
A student, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that at approximately 8.40am her lecture was disrupted when the protestors burst into the lecture hall singing and chanting. “It was very intimidating and frightening. They banged on the desks and shouted at us to get out. They were very forceful and even started pushing us out. They also knocked over a steel cabinet,” said the student.
At approximately 10.30am, the protestors had moved to the quads were they continued to chant and sing. “I am not sure what happened but at one point the police started chasing the protestors and shot rubber bullets at them,” she said.
The student also reported that the protestors were wearing red burets, as well as ANC and EFF t-shirts. She assumed that the protestors were not students.
It was also reported that the protestors attacked a pregnant lecturer on Friday. The lecturer was allegedly pushed to the floor and stamped on, after she stood up to the protestors who interrupted her lecture.
Lesiba Seshoka, the executive director of corporate relations at UKZN, reported that it was in fact students who protested on Friday and that they vandalised various parts of the campus.
Seshoka also reported that the media reports claiming that a pregnant lecturer was attacked by the protestors was false. “According to the academic concerned, on Friday protesting students disrupted her economics lecture at the Westville campus. She was sprayed with a fire-hose. She grabbed the hose and sprayed the protestors to disperse them. While leaving the class she slipped on wet tiles in the T- block building. The lecturer was not trampled and she is not pregnant,” said Seshoka
It was also confirmed by Seshoka that police used rubber bullets as well as teargas to disperse the protesting students. “Four students have been arrested. We have received reports that lectures have been cancelled in some disciplines. Security has been beefed up at the cashiers and at lecture venues on campus,” said Seshoka.
UKZN management has appealed to students not to engage in violent protests and to raise issues through the appropriate channels. Lectures at the Pietermaritzburg, Edgewood, Howard College, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine and Howard College campuses are set to continue.
This incident follows several reported violent protests at the UKZN Howard, Edgewood and Westville Campuses over the last few weeks.
Despite several attempts made by the Highway Mail, the Westville SAPS failed to provide comment.
