Unisa protest: 22 held

2008-08-22 11:01

Durban - The number of students arrested for public violence at the University of South Africa's (Unisa) Durban campus had risen to 22, Durban police said on Friday.

At least 200 students on Thursday protested outside the campus, at the corner of Old Port Road and Stanger Street over the university's new online registration process and material being supplied on a compact disc.

Police said the angry students had been throwing stones at vehicles and had prevented non-protesting students from entering the building to write a national examination.

A 22-year-old man, who was part of the group of protesters, collapsed and died at the scene after apparently having an asthma attack.

He was identified by the university as Mthokozisi Nkwanyana, a second year political science student.

At the time, Inspector Michael Read said the student collapsed outside the International Convention Centre, opposite the campus.

"It appears as if he died from natural causes, but the body will be taken to the Gale Street mortuary and a post mortem will be carried out to establish the cause of death," he said.

Post mortem results were expected in a week's time.

On Friday, the Mercury newspaper reported that Nkwanyana collapsed after police used teargas to disperse the protesters.

Read, however, denied that teargas was used, saying: "We gave them verbal warnings to disperse."

Police watchdog, the Independent Complaints Directorate, was also called to the scene to investigate the matter. Police have opened an inquest docket.

Unisa's KwaZulu-Natal regional director Magnate Ntombela at the time said protesting students had also chained the university's entrance gate to prevent staff and students from entering. Security guards later removed the chain.

The 22 students are due to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court shortly. The institution and students were expected to meet around midday on Friday to discuss the students' grievances.

- SAPA