Hundreds of students used burning tyres to barricade the entrance to the Technikon Northern Gauteng in Soshanguve on Friday to demand the release of four students who were arrested on Thursday.
The group protested in a street running past the technikon’s main gate from about 6am, said police spokesperson Inspector Percy Morokane. Traffic had to be diverted. The group dispersed peacefully about four hours later following talks between university management, campus security and student leaders, Morokane said. All parties agreed that the court case should be allowed to run its course.
Four students, three men and a woman, were arrested in the early morning after allegedly being spotted breaking into the campus’ administration offices late on Thursday night.
The intruders caused damage to the offices and stole groceries worth about R33 000, Morokane said.
Witnesses to the alleged break-in made statements to the police on Thursday night, and identified six intruders. Two other suspects were still being sought by police.
Morokane said there had been student unrest at the technikon about Student Representative Council elections. Police were investigating whether that had any link to the break-in.
There was no answer from the technikon’s switchboard on Friday. Morokane said the situation was calm, and police were patrolling the campus. – Sapa