Firefighters force open Tshwane College

PRETORIA - Firefighters had to break open the main gates of the Tshwane South College in Atteridgeville on Wednesday on the second day of protests, Pretoria police said.

Police attending a meeting to resolve a dispute between management and students around 9am, were refused entry by demonstrating students who threw steel bars at the entrance, said Inspector Daniel Mavimbela Firefighters were called to break open the gate and three students were arrested on charges of public violence.

Subsequently, almost all the students on campus at that time decided to vacate the premises, leaving lecturers behind.

Mavimbela said no shots were fired and it would be an exaggeration to say students went on the rampage as only a "few steel bars" were thrown at the entrance.

He could not confirm if students set property alight, adding that there was minimal deployment of police at the campus.

On Tuesday afternoon, aggrieved students locked all gates, preventing students and lecturers from exiting.

The students, angry over the alleged mismanagement of the college and the unavailability of study materials, toyi-toyied, threw refuse around the campus and destroyed property.

Some lecturers who joined the protesters, complained they were being overlooked by management for promotions and salary increases.

- Sapa