Chaos erupted in Umtata on Wednesday when police used teargas and rubber bullets to forcibly evict students from the Eastern Cape Technikon.
Police took action after an hour-long standoff with a group of students who stood at the main entrance of the institution refusing to leave the premises.
The students then dispersed — running wildly through the streets of the neighbouring suburbs — where they were chased by public order police unit members.
This came after the Technikon management was granted a court interdict barring students from staying on the premises while the campus was closed, said Technikon spokesperson Angela Church.
Police moved into residences on Wednesday after students defied a letter from the vice-chancellor, Professor Quadra Mjoli, ordering them to vacate the campus.
Majoli closed the technikon on Tuesday afternoon after students embarked on a strike earlier that morning demanding more accommodation on campus, more computer laboratories and that the campus caterer be changed.
Following their altercation with the police on Wednesday some students walked 4km into the city, as they could not return to their rooms. Most left their belongings in their rooms and had only the clothes they were wearing.
Lubabalo Mdeuka, a student at the Mount Frere campus about 100km from Umtata, was stranded as he did not have money to travel home. He nevertheless said he wanted the strike to continue.
Lusikisiki student Zimasa Mgojeni, however called on student leaders to abandon the strike.
”Since returning from the winter holidays, there has been no learning taking place here, and the examination time is approaching. How are we going to pass if we continue with the strike,” asked Mgojeni.
Student Representative Council president Vuyo Noko said they were willing to suspend the strike for the sake of students who had nowhere to go and would end up sleeping on the streets.
But he said the technikon management had ”no mercy”.
Church however said that removing students from the campus was the normal procedure that was followed when the institution was closed.
She said a meeting between the central SRC and management would be held on Thursday at the institution’s main campus in Butterworth. – Sapa