Wits student burns bus to ashes in Parktown
PARKTOWN - A Wits student bus allegedly transporting students was set alight on 17 February.
It is alleged that a Wits student bus was set alight yesterday in Parktown by students.
A source has spoken to the Gazette under the condition of anonymity. The source said there were about ten students travelling in the bus at the time. According to the source, the smell of petrol filled the bus and the bus driver then stopped the bus. “The students tried to put the fire out with the fire extinguisher but failed.
“The students got off uninjured and waited for City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services to arrive.
The source said by the time EMS arrived the bus had burnt to ashes.
Wits has since release a statement confirming the incident.
In a statement released by @WitsUniversity: No individuals have been injured in the #WitsBus Incident. #TMs pic.twitter.com/RPpsSLJsIL
— Voice of Wits 88.1 FM 📻 (@vowfm) February 18, 2016
It read as follows:
“The University confirms that a bus was set alight just after 11pm last night outside the Knockando Halls of Residence in Rockridge Road in Parktown.
“Emergency services put out the fire. No one was hurt but the bus has been destroyed. No suspects have yet been identified.
“The University strongly condemns this malicious damage of property and we will do whatever we can to bring the culprits responsible for this incident to book, in line with the University’s policies and procedures, and the law.
“This act is a direct violation of the court interdict obtained by the University. Should the individuals be identified and if they are students, they will be suspended from the Wits campus immediately.
“Additional security officers have once again been deployed throughout campus to ensure that the University’s staff, students and property remain safe.
“These acts divert much needed resources that we require for accommodation, food and academic resources to support and serve our students, particularly those who are poor. We, as a University community, need to collectively act against these criminals – we must identify them and exclude them from our community immediately.
“We have opened a case at the Parkview Police Station and we are appealing to anyone with information that may help the investigation to report to Campus Control in person or to call 011 717-4444 or 011 717-6666.”
Parkview police spokesperson Lloyd Ramovha confirmed that a case had been opened.
This is a developing story, more details will follow as they become available.
Details: www.wits.ac.za
