Violence erupted at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus on Friday, university authorities said.
The students went on a rampage, burning tyres and a car, and breaking into houses near the campus gates.
Students are protesting following a decision by the university that the campus will be turned into a community centre to cater for the needs of the Mamelodi community.
”Rubber tyres were burnt in the morning, when a handful of students gathered outside the campus gates to continue with their strike,” said campus director Edwin Smith.
A press conference organised by the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (Pasma) was itself disrupted as students went on a rampage.
”On Sunday, we will hold a public meeting with the community, the South African Communist Party, the African National Congress Youth League and the school governing body, and on Monday we will intensify our action,” said Pasma national spokesperson Mametlwe Sebei.
Schoolchildren around the area were involved in the violence. Houses were broken into and one student was taken to hospital, said Sebei.
”Police arrived and warned the students that they will be shot at if they did not stop their violence,” Sebei said.
The principal, Calie Pistorius, had to be escorted from campus by police on Thursday when he tried to address the students.
The campus will be closed until the violence ends, said Smith. — Sapa