The management of the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) has raised concerns about the acts of criminality allegedly committed by protesting students on campus. Numerous acts of vandalism, security personnel being taken hostage and theft have marred the recent protest regarding payment of accommodation and food allowances and the extension of the exam period. The strike started on December 1 when students blockaded the entrances with debris and burning tyres. Their concerns included issues regarding the extension of the academic year and accommodation allowances for off-campus students during the extended period. They alleged that some of them had been evicted from their private residences by service providers to whom they owed rent.
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In a communiqué released by the university on December 3, a group of students brought a bakkie belonging to a security company to the main entrance and set it alight. The management of UMP also accused them of breaking 11 doors, at the institution’s state-of the art hotel, two kitchen doors and nine storerooms. The management also accused them of holding three security officers hostage. “Due to these acts of criminality, management put additional security in place to restore law and order and to reopen the barricaded gates, as well as prevent further acts of looting by the students,” read the statement.
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The university accused them of throwing stones at security and cleaning personnel as well. “During the night of December 7, they went back and completely barricaded the main entrance again, violently confronted security personnel and altercations ensued. Regrettably, one of our students was injured.” The injured student was admitted to hospital for treatment, and subsequently others blamed the UMP and security officers for the incident. Management added that the action negatively affected the operations of the university, including the disbursement of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) living allowances for the extended academic year. “The NSFAS had offered to pay 50 per cent of the accommodation allowance for the extended academic year, an offer that was rejected by the executive committee of the accredited private accommodation providers. “Management is pursuing other possible avenues in this regard and remains concerned about the acts of criminality, that have nothing to do with the non-payment of accommodation allowances by NSFAS nor the writing of examinations,” concluded the statement.
