Cops keep watch after KZN varsity protest

2013-03-14 12:22

(File, Sapa)

Durban - Police were keeping watch at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday after a student was injured during a protest.

Captain Thulani Zwane said police were patrolling the area. He said no violent incidents had been reported.

A student was hit on the head with a brick during protests at the Durban campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. Students started protesting on Monday for better accommodation after spending the weekend in "unsafe hotels in the Point area", The Mercury reported.

On Friday, about 500 students were reportedly left without accommodation after being forced to check out of the Coastlands Hotel to make way for a long-standing booking.

The university had been paying for students to stay at the hotel because of problems in residences.

According to The Mercury, it had organised for the students to be accommodated at the Royal Hotel, but they were refused entry.

Lectures were disrupted on Wednesday and a student was hit on the head with a brick.

"We will not stop until we are given proper accommodation," a student leader was quoted as telling the protesters.

The university told the newspaper it had obtained a court interdict "restraining any further disruptions and illegal gatherings on the university's five campuses".

University spokesperson Nomonde Mbadi said the injured student had been taken to hospital.

- SAPA