An interim court interdict granted to the University of Johannesburg (UJ) curtailed a protest taking place across the university’s campuses on Monday.
About 300 students protested at the university’s Bunting Road and Kingsway campuses.
Later on Monday afternoon, they were joined by students from the Soweto and Doornfontein campuses at the gates to the Kingsway Campus.
Most students said they were protesting against a 14% fee increase. Protesters said they would return on Tuesday.
They attempted to shake and break the entrance gate down several times. This came after they were locked out of the campus without an explanation.
Protesters were monitored by university security guards, men in black who refused to be named — although one was wearing a jacket advertising a lap-dance club.
Protesters were sprayed with water cannons and fire extinguishers when they tried to damage the entrance gates.
The urgent interdict, which was granted against five apparent leaders of protesting students, states that the student leaders are interdicted and restrained from disrupting academic classes, management and the operation of all campuses.
It also prevents the students from denying any student or staff access to the campus.
It further prevents any student from damaging or threatening to damage property on the campuses or for inciting other students to carry out any of the above acts.
The five respondents were called to appear before the Johannesburg High Court on October 23 to explain why a final order should not be granted.
UJ spokesperson Sonja Cronje said members of the university’s management executive committee (MEC) met with student representatives on Monday afternoon to discuss the protest.
”These talks were inconclusive,” she said.
One of the student leaders, who addressed the crowd in a Springbok rugby jersey, said he had walked out of the negotiations until students were allowed on to the campus.
Cronje said the university’s entrance gate was shut for security reasons.
”We don’t want to risk potential damage to the property,” she said.
Cronje said the management expected normal activities to resume at the relevant campuses by Tuesday.
Many protestors said the conflict, apart from increased fees, was about deeper issues related to the university merger and inequalities between the university’s campuses.
One placard at the protest called for ”updated library books and the library to be open 24 hours”.
Another placard said: ”Only Van der Merwe can afford 14%. What about Khumalo, what must Khumalo do?”
Organisers refused to officially speak to the media, saying that they ”twist things” and ”spice” them up to make good stories.
At several stages throughout the protest they asked the media to leave.
Students dispersed from the scene towards early evening on Monday.
About 20 protestors tried to gain entrance to Kingsway Campus through the parking lot but were stopped by police because students were writing exams nearby. — Sapa