Police fire injures 4 students

2003-11-17 16:00

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 by police who fired teargas and rubber bullets after students barricaded the main entrance.

The university was closed following the disturbances, Vice-Chancellor Ngoato Takalo said on Monday.

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

Takalo said the examinations which were scheduled to start on Monday would not go ahead.

Police 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.

The president of the United Democratic Movement, Bantu Holomisa, on Monday called on President Thabo Mbeki to fire minister of education Kader Asmal because of his policy on merging higher education institutions.

The students at the university of the North West had been protesting against a proposed increase in tuition fees and the merger of higher education institutions.

Holomisa also condemned the police's firing of rubber bullets at the North West university students.

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.

Director Tlhalefang Kuetsile earlier said eight students were arrested and four injured when police fired rubber bullets during a protest on the campus.

Police apparently fired teargas and rubber bullets after students barricaded the main entrance.

- SAPA