DESPITE an upsurge in campus violence on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning this week, classes have resumed at Durban University of Technology.
According to Alan Khan, senior director of corporate affairs at DUT, there were reports of arson at the Steve Biko campus on Tuesday night. Khan said the campus protection team was quick to react and the incidents were brought under control before major damage was caused.
On Wednesday morning, Khan said about 30 students at the ML Sultan campus caused some disruptions but police were in attendance and arrested six protestors.
Last week, DUT students marched to Durban’s Regional Court on Thursday morning to protest against the arrest of two students who made their first appearance in court.
The two students were arrested last Tuesday and Wednesday respectively during violent student protests at ML Sultan campus. Only a few of the close to 150 students were allowed into court, leaving many outside singing songs of protest and toyi-toying.
The students told Berea Mail they were not allowed to even use the toilet at court as Public Order Police kept them outside the gates. When students returned outside with news that the two accused would be remanded in custody at Westville Prison, despite their attorney appealing for leniency for the female student to be kept in a holding cell, the students toyi-toyied and sang louder in protest.
Meanwhile, Professor Theo Andrew, deputy vice-chancellor of operations at DUT confirmed the University reached an agreement with the SRC regarding the resumption of classes on Monday night.
“Now that we have reached a resolution with our SRC, the academic programme will resume on all campuses. Therefore, we are pleased to confirm, as per the agreement reached with our SRC, that from Wednesday, 5 October, that the student protest action at DUT will be suspended and all classes will resume. However, the police will still be monitoring the situation at DUT and we have been advised by police management that they will take the necessary action to prevent any further disruption to our academic calendar,” Prof Andrew added.
Captain PN Naidoo, communications officer at Berea SAPS said officers were continuing their 24-hour monitoring of the situation at campuses which had been mostly calm this week in line with national instruction.
