Students go on rampage

2010-03-10 19:13

Pretoria - Students at the Tshwane South College in Attridgeville, Pretoria, went on a "rampage" and set fire to a classroom on Wednesday, the second day of protests, the Gauteng education department said.

"A group of learners went on the rampage and burnt a classroom," spokesperson Charles Phahlane said.

"Police were called in and three people have been arrested for public violence."

The students, angry over the alleged mismanagement of the college and the unavailability of study material, toyi-toyied, threw refuse around the campus and destroyed property.

Defies logic

"The learning material that learners claim has not arrived has in fact arrived and the college was in the process of distributing it. To use the delay in the arrival of material as an excuse to burn down a class defies logic."

Phahlane said that earlier concerns had been raised about principal Joe Chiloane.

"The principal has been withdrawn temporarily while we seek to resolve concerns in an amicable and sustainable manner. While we had given ourselves two weeks to resolve these matters, we have had to extend this period as we would like to secure a lasting solution," Phahlane said.

Some lecturers who joined the protesters complained they were being overlooked for promotions and salary increases.

Reasons

"We are looking into the reasons behind this unruly behaviour by learners. If any staff member is found to be behind this action, they will be dealt with procedurally."

Police who arrived to attend a meeting to resolve the dispute between management and students at around 09:00, were refused access by students, Inspector Daniel Mavimbela said.

Once they got in nearly all the students on campus decided to vacate the premises.

Mavimbela said no shots were fired and there was minimal deployment of police on the campus.

On Tuesday afternoon, aggrieved students locked all gates, preventing anyone from leaving or entering.

- SAPA