Lectures were suspended indefinitely at the University of Zululand on Tuesday after protesting students failed to heed an ultimatum to return to class.
The university’s director of public relations, Mike Khuboni, said the university’s management decided to close down the university and order all students off campus after a student meeting in the morning failed to resolve the crisis at the troubled institution.
On Monday afternoon, police were called in to disperse protesting students after bricks were thrown at the administration buildings and the library.
This came after a circular was distributed to students on Monday afternoon ordering students to return to classes by 3pm or the university would be closed.
Police spokesperson Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said nobody was injured in the protest and that ”necessary force” was used to disperse students.
Khuboni said: ”Management will be meeting on Thursday to resolve the crisis. It is a matter of urgency.”
Last week, students handed over a memorandum to Rachel Gumbi, the university’s rector, protesting against a lack of accommodation. The students also complained about many of the university’s courses ”not being nationally recognised”.
Mdletshe said on Tuesday students were also angry that Gumbi had not responded to their demands for a meeting.
Khuboni said student representative council president Ivan Barnes had held an urgent meeting with management late on Monday afternoon. No details of that meeting were immediately available.
Police were keeping a low profile on the campus on Tuesday and all was reported to be quiet.
Khuboni said the protests did not appear to be orchestrated by one or other aligned group. — Sapa