North West University students throw stones at police officers during a protest in October last year. Picture: SOWETAN
North West University students throw stones at police officers during a protest in October last year. Picture: SOWETAN

Related articles

In this article

AS CAMPUS chaos continued on Thursday, MPs expressed "grave concern" and echoed North West University’s fear about political influences, while the University of Pretoria’s vice-chancellor said the institution would take a zero-tolerance approach to violence when it reopens next week.

Arrests at University of the Free State

Chaos erupted at the University of the Free State campus in Bloemfontein on Thursday evening when a group of students allegedly tried to topple the MT Steyn statue‚ OFM radio news reported.

It said public order police reportedly used rubber bullets and stun grenades when a group of riotous students gathered at the statue near the main building.

At least 21 students were arrested, it said.

Free State police and the university management could not immediately be reached for comment.

Earlier, News24 reported, the university said it had struck a deal with protesting contract workers and was expecting them back at work on Monday, but students said their demands had not yet been met.

Aphelele Mpwecu from the student and workers forum said some of the students demands included more housing and the immediate removal of vice-chancellor, Jonathan Jansen.

North West University

At North West University, whose Mafikeng campus is closed for at least a month after buildings were gutted this week, the executive committee expressed concern about the "role played by nonstudents and outside interests".

Aside from the external influences "in the instigation of the violence and vandalism"‚ the committee said it would seek answers on "the role of campus security‚ and the steps taken by campus management‚ in general‚ to monitor and manage the situation".

The committee had "full confidence in the ability of management‚ under the leadership of the vice-chancellor‚ Prof Dan Kgwadi‚ to effectively and wisely deal with the situation", it said.

Prof Kgwadi’s name was mentioned by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) — which has been widely blamed for the protests that turned violent — in its statement earlier this week.

Spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party was aware Prof "Kgwadi has pronounced his affiliation to the African National Congress and said he will never allow the campus to be led by an EFF" student representative council.

MPs concerned

Parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education said on Thursday that the violence at universities was of grave concern.

Committee chairperson Ms Yvonne Phosa said it appeared as though some "political formations" were manipulating the violence for political gain.

"The academic year is supposed to be in full swing‚ yet universities are bogged down by governance and operational issues. It’s almost at the end of the first term but the environment is not conducive for learning in many of our universities‚ and that is of concern‚" Ms Phosa said.

"We wish to reiterate the committee’s condemnation of the acts of vandalism and damage to property at universities. This compromises the safety of students as well as important records."

In addition to Wednesday’s fire at North West University’s Mafikeng campus, last week University of Cape vice-chancellor Max Prices’s office was petrol bombed.

University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria plans to reopen next week, and vice-chancellor Cheryl de la Rey says it will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to violence and crime, News24 reports.

But the EFF Student Command at the university says classes cannot resume without an agreement being reached with management.

Chairman Kabelo Mahlobogwane said the university had still not accepted their memorandum.

"We don’t want to go back to Tukkies, we want to go back to the University of Pretoria," he said. "It must be transformed first. We will wait for the university to give us a date on when we are going to start engaging on the memorandum."

Prof de la Rey said: "We have taken additional security measures and we have taken time to work with the South African Police Service and we are saying enough is enough.

"We commit to peaceful engagements but we cannot have disruptions to the academic programme. We cannot have intimidation; we cannot have threats levelled at students, staff and anyone else who wants to be part of this," she said.

TMG Digital and News24