A guardhouse was set on fire and a road at the university’s vice chancellor’s official residence in Muckleneuk, Pretoria barricaded with burning tyres during a National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) protest on Monday.

The protest saw the corner of Elandspoort and Ridge streets barricaded with burning tyres, forcing motorists to find alternative routes.

Sunnyside police had to intervene to bring the situation under control. As a result, the group dispersed immediately after the police arrived at the scene.

One of the protesters was heard shouting from within the group ‘this is just a warning shot’.

Nehawu Tshwane regional chairperson Ivan Ramogale condemned the acts of violence.

“We were demonstrating peacefully in the street. We did not set any vehicle on fire or damage any property. We do not know the group of people who set the guardhouse on fire,” he says.

Ramogale says they were protesting the ‘unlawful’ suspension of five of their shop stewards, who were also Nehawu office bearers, by the university.

Ramogale says according to the labour relations act, a union should be informed and consulted before an employer disciplines and suspends a shop steward. He says the process had not been followed.

“On April 19, our shop stewards received letters directly from the office of the vice-chancellor suggesting that the university was suspending them, which was unlawful.”

He says attempts to discuss the matter were fruitless.

Unisa spokesperson Martin Ramotshela says the university is open to discussions.

“The university has always been communicating its commitment to continuous engagement with organised labour to resolve whatever issues,” Ramotshela says.

The university had always been insisting that it respected the rights of workers to embark on a protest or industrial action if the strike happened within the ambit of the law, he says.

He adds that in the act of exercising their right they should not violate the rights of others.

Ramotshela confirmed that the fire was at ‘the official residency of the vice-chancellor’.

He could not confirm if the current vice-chancellor had moved into the university residency.

Ramotshela condemned the acts of the protestors.

“Setting the guardhouse on fire is very unfortunate and the university cannot condone it under any circumstances.”

He says the university believes violence should not be used as a form of conflict resolution or to try and express frustrations.

“The matter is in the hands of the police.”

Sunnyside police spokesperson Captain Daniel Mavimbela confirmed that a case of arson was opened.