VIDEO: Westville UKZN protests reignite

THE Westville campus of the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) has again seen scenes of violent student protests, with reports being shared of petrol bombs being thrown and buildings being torched.

The images being shared are reminiscent of the same time last year when violent protests forces the university management to suspend classes. At the time students were demanding free education and free WiFi.

ALSO READ: Student protest disrupts classes at UKZN Westville campus

Currently the demands of the protesting students are not clear.

Last week the the academic programme at the university was also suspended, after violence broke out at both the Edgewood and Westville campuses.

The spokesperson for Westville SAPS, Cpt Elizabeth Squires, confirmed that protest action was taking place on Wednesday morning and said police were in attendance.

“There is protest action at Westville campus. Public Order Policing units from SAP and Metro have been deployed,” she said.

According to Squires, fires which had been lit by protesters have been extinguished.

“The Risk Management Building and 2 Quad bikes have been set alight, but fires have been extinguished,” she said adding that Westville SAPS station commander, Col Zondi, was standing off at the scene.

ALSO READ: Violent student protests in Westville force UKZN to suspend classes

“Today at 8am, a group of students embarked in a protest action at UKZN Westville campus,” said Gwala adding that the students allegedly set fire to a quad bike and a motorcycle. “There is a building that was partially burnt during the unruly protest and windows were also damaged. The police are at the scene to stabilise the situation. A case of public violence has been opened for investigation.”