DUT campus shut after protest
2010-03-15 15:57
Durban - The Durban University of Technology's (DUT) Pietermaritzburg campus was on Monday temporarily closed till Thursday after a protest in which ten students were arrested.
"Management at DUT has temporarily closed its Midlands Campus, following student protests regarding the cost of food supplied by service providers," said spokesperson Professor Nqabomzi Gawe.
She said the prices had not been increased since 2009.
"Lectures would resume on Thursday and management was reviewing the concerns raised by students," she said.
Car damaged
About 800 students from DUT's Ndumiso Campus in Pietermaritzburg protested, causing damage to the roof and windscreen of a car parked on the premises, police said.
"They also removed fire extinguishers from the campus. The students were also throwing stones and bottles at the police," Superintendent Jay Naicker said.
"After numerous requests from the police to disperse the protesters refused to comply."
Rubber bullets and stun grenades were used to scatter them, but there were no serious injuries, Naicker said.
Rubber bullets hit students
Netcare 911 spokesperson Jeff Wicks said rubber bullets struck one student in the head and another in the abdomen.
"Ten suspects, aged between 18 and 25, were subsequently arrested and charged for public violence and malicious damage to property," Naicker said.
All would appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court shortly.
Gawe said the university had one contracted service provider for both the Midlands Campus's sites, Indumiso and Riverside.
"According to the agreement the service provider is allowed to sell takeaway retail items at market related prices," Gawe said.
- SAPA