Vehicles torched in Braamfontein turmoil
BRAAMFONTEIN – Police van and buses set alight in Braamfontein.
A Parkview police van and a Rea Vaya bus were set alight on the evening of 25 October by protesters during a night of mayhem in Braamfontein.
Metro police spokesperson, Edna Mamonyane said protesters threw rocks at a Rea Vaya bus at the corner of Jorissen and Rissik streets in Braamfontein, forcing the driver off the bus and then they torched it.
In a separate incident, a Wits University bus was also set alight at about 9.30pm on Queens Street in Parktown.
Wits spokesperson, Shirona Patel said there were about 15 people on the bus and it seems that one of them started a fire.
Read: Another night of protests in Braamfontein
“The students alerted the bus driver, who stopped the bus and they all disembarked. No injuries have been reported. “The university condemned the arson and the violence that took place outside the university,” she said.
The Wits Student Representative Council has distanced itself from the incidents.
“We condemn and distance ourselves from the burning of a Wits bus that was in transit. We will provide trauma counselling for those affected,” said Fasiha Hassan of the council.
No arrests have been made and police spokesperson, Kay Makhubela said they were investigating whether the incidents were linked to the ongoing fees protests.
Read: Braamfontein eery after night time protest
“We are investigating whether three arson attacks and overnight demonstrations in Braamfontein are linked to the ongoing #FeesMustFall protests. We have managed to get the CCTV footage which we believe will assist us in our investigation,” he said.
In a statement, Wits University condemned the criminal acts of arson in the strongest form.
“These acts of violence put the lives of students and others at risk and we are working with police to track down the perpetrators so that they can be brought to book as soon as possible,” read the statement.
