Students converge at campus

2008-04-15 10:21

Durban - Hundreds of students and parents converged at Durban's Mangosuthu University of Technology campus on Tuesday, demanding that management meet them and collect a memorandum of grievances.

Police closed off a large portion of Mangosutho Highway and a huge police fleet was monitoring the situation. Police said parents and students had attempted to break down the university gates earlier on Tuesday.

"They want the rector to come out so they can hand their memorandum to him," police spokesperson Captain Khephu Ndlovu said.

Also at the scene were paramedics and residents of T-section, Umlazi.

Earlier a 23-year-old man was wounded in a shootout in Durban's Umlazi suburb, police said.

Superintendent Daniela Veldhuizen said police were unsure why residents and students in T-Section were unhappy.

"The residents and students in the area seemed to be upset but we don't know why. Some shots were fired and one man was hit in the stomach," she said.

Security guards contracted to the local railway station also set tyres alight on roads and began shouting.

"We also don't know why they are unhappy," said Veldhuizen.

She said it was unclear if the two incidents were related.

Speaking from the scene, Captain Ndlovu said police were monitoring the situation.

"We don't know what it going on and why they are acting like this. But everyone seems to have gathered at the Mangosuthu University of Technology," he said.

Dozens of residents were seen armed with picks and traditional Zulu shields. Many stood on sections of the highway and in the surrounding veld.

Residents also sang and danced - many said they were upset because of the suspension of 16 SRC (student representative council) members affiliated to the South African Democratic Student Movement (Sadesmo)

- SAPA