Protests continued at the University of Zululand on Thursday, with an IFP student wing saying political tensions between itself and an ANC-aligned student movement had reached ”terrible” proportions.
”There is high political instability on campus at the moment,” said Christian Ntuli, national chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party’s student wing, the SA Democratic Students Movement (Sadesmo).
The ANC-aligned SA Student Congress (Sasco) was preparing to call for closure of the university, as ”about 500” of them protested on Thursday against alleged irregularities in the recent Student Representative Council (SRC) elections.
”We are calling for the closure of this university. No-one is allowed to wear Sasco T-shirts on campus and yesterday [Wednesday] eight students were admitted to hospital after being beaten by Sadesmo,” said Sasco’s KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Sammy Mashita.
Sadesmo also claimed its members had been beaten by Sasco members and threatened by ANC members from outside the campus brandishing guns.
”It’s not true. I don’t know of an incident where their members were beaten,” Mashita countered.
The hostilities broke out after SRC elections last Thursday in which Sadesmo, according to Ntuli, won all the contested positions.
”Sasco objected to the results and instructed the rector [Rachel Gumbi] not to issue the results of the election,” said Ntuli.
Gumbi initially sent out a circular saying the results would not be issued due to Sasco’s objection.
Sadesmo members on Tuesday went on a rampage following a mass meeting and ”destroyed” Gumbi’s car, Mashita said.
”Sasco launched an appeal, Sadesmo marched to have the results released as free and fair, and she [Gumbi] succumbed.
”You can’t release them and then investigate. You can’t respond to their pressure by saying it is proper when it is not,” said Mashita.
On Wednesday Sadesmo members marched around the campus, demanding the withdrawal of disciplinary charges against them for having invited IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi to the university.
”Management was not happy about that,” said Ntuli.
They were told on Tuesday the case had been postponed. They demanded that the hearing either go ahead or be withdrawn.
It was after this that the Sadesmo march took place on Wednesday where they alleged ANC members provoked their student with guns.
”There was physical engagement… students on campus were beating other students,” Ntuli said.
The case was eventually withdrawn, Ntuli said.
Police spokesperson Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said the situation was ”under control” on the campus. – Sapa