Students wounded

2003-11-17 13:04

Mafikeng - Four students were injured when police fired rubber bullets during a protest on the campus of the University of the North West in Mafikeng on Monday.

Eight students were arrested when students barricaded the main entrance.

Since last week students have been protesting against a proposed increase in tuition fees and the merger of higher education institutions.

The university was closed following the disturbances, vice-chancellor Ngoato Takalo said on Monday. Examinations, which were scheduled to start on Monday, have been cancelled.

Director Tlhalefang Kuetsile said students were still on campus but that the situation had been brought under control.

She said management had tried several times to have a dialogue with the student representative council but the meetings were often disrupted.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa on Monday condemned the firing of rubber bullets at the students.

He called on President Thabo Mbeki to fire minister of education Kader Asmal because of his policy on merging higher education institutions.

He said students had not been consulted on a number of issues relating to minister Kader Asmal's merging of institutions.

"Students have asked for an audience with the authorities, but minister Asmal and the university council seem to think that students are not stakeholders and are not deserving of consultation," he said.

- SAPA