Crime led to visitor ban

2003-08-14 15:05

Johannesburg - A number of criminal incidents occurring at Technikon Witwatersrand residences was the reason behind its decision to ban visitors in students' rooms, the institution said on Thursday.

Technikon spokesperson Mary Willemse said that over the past three years there had been two cases of rape, three of assault and one of sexual harassment. There was also an incident where a student apparently jumped out of a window, but other people were in the room with him.

"There have been none this year so far. The reason for the rule is that the technikon needs to protect its students (from crime)," she told Sapa.

Students told to vacate rooms

About 1 800 students living at the technikon's Doornfontein and Auckland Park campuses in Johannesburg were given a 18:00 deadline on Wednesday to vacate their rooms after the technikon closed down until further notice.

Thousands of students took to the streets to protest against the new regulation. Students are no longer allowed to have visitors in their rooms as a security measure.

Leadership of the students have accused management of changing the rule without consulting them, but this has been denied by the technikon.

On Wednesday night management relaxed its deadline and allowed students who were not able to find accommodation to stay at the residences - on condition they signed an agreement that they would abide by the rules and regulations of the residences. Ninety-six students took up the offer.

Temporary agreement

Willemse said the agreement was only a temporary one, and students would be expected to reapply for admission to the hostels once the technikon re-opened.

Meanwhile a team of senior officials from the Department of Education are currently meeting technikon management to discuss ways of ending the conflict.

The delegation, headed by the department's chief director of higher education, Dr Molapo Qhobela, is also expected to meet student leaders later in the day.

370 students arrested

About 370 students who were arrested during Wednesday's protests will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday. They face charges under the Gatherings Act for holding an illegal protest, intimidation and trespassing.

The students were arrested during clashes with police in central Johannesburg. Police were called to the Auckland Park and Doornfontein campuses after students refused to disperse on Wednesday morning.

At Auckland Park dustbins were tipped into the road and tyres burned to block traffic, while students at Doornfontein barricaded entrances.

Most of those apprehended were arrested in Jorissen Street while marching through the city to join their Doornfontein classmates. The students were arrested after police, some in riot control gear, threw a stun grenade.

Reporters saw students being manhandled and one was kicked by a policeman while on the ground.

"Excessive" use of force

The African National Congress Youth League said it was dismayed by the "excessive" use of force by the police.

"We had hoped that the police services would have by now changed their crowd control tactics, but unfortunately yesterday (Wednesday) they behaved in a way reminiscent of the yester-year's apartheid dogs of terror," it said.

The League called on the student leaders and technikon management to urgently resolve their differences in an amicable manner.

"There is no single party in the conflict that has the right to impose their will upon the others. Whatever their differences, vandalism and autocracy are objectionable as tools to resolve conflicts and differences in the new era.

"We are convinced that the technikon community has enough capacity to demonstrate the unity of purpose and bring this matter to finality," the League said.

Most students have found alternative accommodation and there were no violent incidents on the campuses on Thursday, Willemse said.

- SAPA