Students held after TUT protest
2008-02-20 19:11
Pretoria - About 10 students from the Tshwane University of Technology were arrested on Wednesday following a protest which turned violent, said Pretoria police.
Captain Dumisani Ndlazi said the 10, who were part of a protesting group, were arrested at the university's main campus in Pretoria West.
"They were arrested after they destroyed university property" said Ndlazi.
He said that police had to fire rubber bullets at the protesting group who demanded a response from the institution following a memorandum of grievances handed over to it on Monday.
The students were protesting over fee hikes and academic exclusion.
"They will face charges of malicious damage to property," said Ndlazi.
Professor Errol Tyobeka, vice-chancellor and principal, said he was shocked at what had happened.
Violent protest
He said it was unclear why the protest had turned violent since the council had already committed itself to providing a response to the memorandum.
"The university regrets the inconvenience this protest action is causing to students, their parents and staff. We are still hopeful that we will resolve the issues as a matter of urgency, since broad-based agreement on most issues already exists," he said.
University spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said the protest started about 10:30 and the protesters dispersed at about 14:30. She said the protesters broke windows and intimidated students in residences.
Earlier on Wednesday student leaders met with senior officials of the Education Department.
"I do not know the outcome of the meeting as it was a closed meeting," said de Ruyter.
The SA Union of Students which represents most Student Representative Councils of universities in South Africa, confirmed that it attended the meeting.
Secretary general of the union Mbulelo Mandlana said: "We attended the meeting called by the department. The meeting was called so as the department could get a clear understanding about what students are upset about."
Meanwhile the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) said it was being swamped with calls from concerned students' parents as a result of the protest.
FF Plus spokesperson Willie Spies said parents complained about suspended classes. He said this was a result of the university's "hopeless management".
'Parent crisis action'
He said the party's caravan had been turned upside down during protests that started on Monday.
He said parents had entered into a contract with the university which had been broken.
The party said it would soon be announcing details of a "parent crisis action" campaign that would force the institution though legal action to provide lectures to students.
Tyobeka called on students to refrain from violence.
The university would remain closed until further notice.
- SAPA