University of Pretoria closes two campuses, UCT students accuse Price
by Lizeka Tandwa,
2016-02-19 11:08:08.0
THE University of Pretoria (UP) closed two of its campuses on Friday, while University of Cape Town (UCT) students said they had laid charges against vice-chancellor Max Price.
UP suspended all academic programmes at the Groenkloof and Hatfield campuses for the day after scuffles broke out on Thursday over its language policy, UP spokeswoman Anna-Retha Bouwer said.
The institution also obtained a court interdict against AfriForum Youth and the EFF Student Command.
"The situation was monitored overnight because there were threats of interruption. A decision was made to close the two campuses.
"This decision was made to secure the safety of students and also to allow time for consultation with student leaders. We decided to obtain a court interdict at midnight on Thursday," Ms Bouwer said.
She said AfriForum Youth and the EFF Student Command were fighting against each other.
The interdict prevents students from disrupting classes, using hate speech and any unlawful action.
In Cape Town, Western Cape police spokesperson Lt-Col Andre Traut confirmed that charges of assault, malicious damage to property and intimidation had been laid at Rondebosch police station.
"I cannot say who laid the charges and against whom, what I can say is charges have been brought to police and we are investigating," he said.
One of the Rhodes Must Fall supporters confirmed that they had laid charges.
"We need the police to investigate the crimes that were committed but were never reported against us. Students were assaulted and intimidated but no one cares to tell this story," said one of the supporters, who did not want to be named.
Rhodes Must Fall took to social media calling for any evidence of brutality against students. "All those with evidence regarding the case of police violence that took place at #Shackville on Tuesday night, please email it to us."
UCT obtained a court interdict against 16 students, including Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe’s son, following violent campus protests.
The university approached the High Court in Cape Town on Wednesday after paintings, a Jammie shuttle bus and a bakkie were set alight.
The vice-chancellor’s office was petrol bombed. Eight people were arrested. One of them was not a student.
On Monday, students erected a shack on Residence Road and cordoned off an area, calling it Shackville. Their actions were intended to highlight accommodation shortages in residences, which they said did not affect white students. They claimed that black students were being treated badly.
But Mr Price, at a media conference later on Wednesday, said that in 2015 more than 75% of students living in the university’s residences were black and the number was expected to be higher this year.
A group of students are seen on video footage on Twitter standing in front of a police station. "Group of Rhodes Must Fall students at Rondebosh Police station to lay charges against Vc Max Price #UCT #Shackville," the post read.
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Students run past the Old Arts Building at the University of Pretoria's Hatfield campus . Picture: ARON HYMAN
THE University of Pretoria (UP) closed two of its campuses on Friday, while University of Cape Town (UCT) students said they had laid charges against vice-chancellor Max Price.
UP suspended all academic programmes at the Groenkloof and Hatfield campuses for the day after scuffles broke out on Thursday over its language policy, UP spokeswoman Anna-Retha Bouwer said.
The institution also obtained a court interdict against AfriForum Youth and the EFF Student Command.
"The situation was monitored overnight because there were threats of interruption. A decision was made to close the two campuses.
"This decision was made to secure the safety of students and also to allow time for consultation with student leaders. We decided to obtain a court interdict at midnight on Thursday," Ms Bouwer said.
She said AfriForum Youth and the EFF Student Command were fighting against each other.
The interdict prevents students from disrupting classes, using hate speech and any unlawful action.
In Cape Town, Western Cape police spokesperson Lt-Col Andre Traut confirmed that charges of assault, malicious damage to property and intimidation had been laid at Rondebosch police station.
"I cannot say who laid the charges and against whom, what I can say is charges have been brought to police and we are investigating," he said.
One of the Rhodes Must Fall supporters confirmed that they had laid charges.
"We need the police to investigate the crimes that were committed but were never reported against us. Students were assaulted and intimidated but no one cares to tell this story," said one of the supporters, who did not want to be named.
Rhodes Must Fall took to social media calling for any evidence of brutality against students. "All those with evidence regarding the case of police violence that took place at #Shackville on Tuesday night, please email it to us."
UCT obtained a court interdict against 16 students, including Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe’s son, following violent campus protests.
The university approached the High Court in Cape Town on Wednesday after paintings, a Jammie shuttle bus and a bakkie were set alight.
The vice-chancellor’s office was petrol bombed. Eight people were arrested. One of them was not a student.
On Monday, students erected a shack on Residence Road and cordoned off an area, calling it Shackville. Their actions were intended to highlight accommodation shortages in residences, which they said did not affect white students. They claimed that black students were being treated badly.
But Mr Price, at a media conference later on Wednesday, said that in 2015 more than 75% of students living in the university’s residences were black and the number was expected to be higher this year.
A group of students are seen on video footage on Twitter standing in front of a police station. "Group of Rhodes Must Fall students at Rondebosh Police station to lay charges against Vc Max Price #UCT #Shackville," the post read.
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