TWO storerooms on the University of Zululand main campus in KwaDlangezwa were set alight on Wednesday night.
The buildings, both prefabricated mobile offices, were razed to the ground at around 9pm.
Communications Director for Unizulu, Gcina Nhleko on Thursday morning said assessors were going to visit the sites to determine the value of the property damaged.
‘At this stage we are not sure why the fires were started, or by whom, but we have opened a case of arson at the Mtunzini Police Station,’ she said.
Nhleko confirmed attempts were also made to set alight an electrical substation on campus.
A student, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the fire was set by politically active students unhappy with recent developments at the campus.
Staff have been on strike since 15 August after wage talks between university management and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) collapsed.
This week, which marks the sixth week of the strike, the university suspended NEHAWU Unizulu branch deputy secretary Hlakaniphani Jamile.
Jamile was leading negotiations with university management and has been a lecturer in the Education Faculty for 13 years.
‘The accusations against me are unfounded and are simply a tactic to weaken the union,’ Jamile said on Monday.
Nhleko on Tuesday confirmed the suspension but denied the university had done so to damage the union.
‘University Management met with NEHAWU on Monday to continue with the negotiations,’ Nhleko said.
‘However the union was adamant that management should give in to their original demands.’
She said it has been made clear that the costs to implement these demands are not affordable.
‘Also, these demands relate to resolutions that were made by the University Council. In that case, they should be tabled at the next Council meeting which will be held next week.’
Nhleko would not be drawn on questions relating to the charges against Jamile.
‘We are unable to publicly disclose his charges due to the conditions of employment contract and until the process is finalised,’ she said.
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