Campus closed after protest

2005-02-23 04:07

Pretoria - The University of Pretoria (Tuks) will close its Mamelodi campus on Wednesday and Thursday after protests which saw the arrest of six students.

Karen Lazenby of the university said the institution was in discussions with the leadership of the Pan Africanist Students' Movement of Azania (Pansma) and other student bodies and was not ready to issue a statement.

Meanwhile, police are to investigate whether or an officer acted illegally when he fired a shot from his service pistol at the university.

Students said they were protesting against "financial exclusion, academic exclusion and a racist student representative council".

'Women can't study maths'

They called for a uniform student representative body elected from all campuses of the University of Pretoria and complained of academic discrimination.

This included claims of lecturers saying that women students were not allowed to study mathematics and massive fee increments, which they battled to pay.

Some students were supported by their grandmothers, using their pension money.

Detailing the shooting, Mel Vosloo of police said: "At the main entrance, inspector Vusi Mabena and constable JM Khoza, were met by a crowd of approximately 150 demonstrating students who immediately started stoning the patrol car.

SAPS officers also helped

"Inspector Mabena decided to act to prevent further damage to the vehicle and he fired two shots from his service pistol into the ground in front of the students, who immediately dispersed.

"This action allowed the officers to remove their vehicle from the the premises, where they were helped by officers from the SA Police Service. No one was injured."

Until shortly after noon, between 100 and 200 students held a protest dance, under umbrellas to shade them from the sun. A bonfire of tyres followed.

When a riot police vehicle drove towards the bonfire, the students scattered. Stones were thrown and police gave chase into the residential area adjacent to the campus.

Inspector Percy Morokane confirmed that six students were arrested.

Police used their water cannon vehicle, which onlookers referred to as a "tsunami", to put out the fire.

- SAPA