Two student leaders were arrested at Wednesday’s protest action at the Westville campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, for allegedly inciting public violence.
The protests, which entered day three this week, centre around the lack of transport between the campus and the Durban CBD; ”inferior” accommodation on the Westville campus; and inadequate accommodation on the Pietermaritzburg campus.
Student Representative Council (SRC) president Sandile Phakathi said: ”Just when we were about to present our memorandum to management, police took Westville SRC president Ntuthuko Makhombothi and Westville SRC treasurer Ntando Zulu away. We refuse to meet with management or to present our memorandum to them unless these students are returned to the campus.”
Phakathi said that on Monday five students were arrested and were denied representation or visitation rights and were released on Tuesday.
Police superintendent Dion Singh confirmed that two students were arrested on Wednesday. ”They are being processed to go to the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. They will be formally charged with public violence and assault.”
According to Themba Khumalo, deputy dean of students at UKZN, the university management was to receive the memorandum of grievances from students at lunchtime on Wednesday. However, the SRC halted the handing over of the memorandum following the two arrests.
”Both members are alleged to have incited public violence. They were also caught on camera hurling eggs at non-protesting students and at the police. SRC members say they will only hand over the memorandum once both members are released,” said Khumalo in a statement.
”It is only once management receives the memorandum that the university will effectively indicate what can and will be done to resolve the issues raised therein … The university management sincerely hopes that both SRC members are released soon so that a process of negotiations can begin.”
Meanwhile, Durban University of Technology (DUT) is closed for academic activity following student and staff protests earlier this week. Staff embarked on a strike on Monday after wage negotiations reached a stalemate, while the students’ grievances centred on a shortage of residences and unroadworthy transport.
Nomonde Mbadi, executive director of corporate affairs, said five security guards are in hospital with serious injuries after they were attacked by striking students and staff. They were stationed outside the office of the vice-chancellor. ”Rocks and bottles were thrown at security guards, at the windows of various buildings and at cars parked in the vicinity.”
Mbadi said the university condemns the acts of violence and intimidation that have ”characterised this strike action and endeavours to work with the unions and the SRC to find solutions to the current challenges so that DUT can return to normality”.
She said staff will return to work on Thursday. ”Students are required to return to lectures on Monday February 9 2009. The only students that will be permitted on campus before Monday February 9 2009 are those that are housed on the campus residences.