Lectures suspended as protests continue at UKZN

The damage to the vehicles and university follows the torching of an exam venue at the varsity’s Pietermaritzburg campus last week, said CICA.

STUDENT protests have flared up at UKZN’s Howard College campus with reports of a building on fire and students fleeing the unrest.

A first year student who wished to remain anonymous, told Berea Mail she was glad she did not go to campus today as she feared for her safety.

The university said damage had been caused to property at Howard College by the protesting students, who also stoned vehicles there. They also blocked the road.

The vehicles were set on fire late on Monday right outside the university’s risk management centre, which is responsible for the institution’s security.

Seshoka said that security at the university had been beefed up in a bid to prevent any further disruptions to the academic programme.

Seshoka said some of the issues raised by the student leadership fell within the jurisdiction of the UKZN Council.

As the drama unfolds, students at the various residences on the campus claim they are innocently being shot at; while others urge their fellow students to continue with the protest.

“Currently we are mobilising students to different parts to protest because we are going to shut down the institution up to a point where [management] comes to listen to us and they will need to hold a special meeting just to address our issues”, he said.

Following about four weeks of student protests at UKZN, which at one stage led to a two-week suspension of the academic programme, the call for another zero percent fee increment is gaining momentum at the university.