All CPUT campuses closed after protests

VIOLENT protests have forced all Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) campuses to be shut down.

Chris Nhlapo, acting Vice-Chancellor at CPUT, said the decision was taken to safeguard staff and students across all campuses. Part-time classes at the Cape Town and Bellville campuses were also postponed.

Yesterday, protesters disrupted exams at CPUT in Roeland Street in the CBD, using pepper spray to attack students who were writing.

Later, a group of students held a meeting at the main Cape Town campus which was disrupted by security guards. The protesters retaliated by throwing bottles and stones at the guards and the police officers who were later called in.

Cars parked next to City Edge residence and in the adjacent streets were also damaged.

The protesters set alight barricades of mattresses, pillows and other debris taken from residence storerooms. Rubber bullets were fired at some of the protesters.

The police and fire department eventually broke through the barricades and forcefully entered residences. Many students locked themselves in their rooms.

“The problem is that the management does not want to listen to us, we are fighting for financial exclusion and victimisation from police and the private security,” a student said.

Meanwhile, in Mowbray and Bellville management has issued a statement asking everyone to vacate the campus for their safety and staff cars were also damaged.

Today is the final verdict on the fate of the CPUT students who were suspended.

PROTESTERS DISRUPTED EXAMS AT CPUT IN ROELAND STREET IN THE CBD

PICTURE: DAVID RITCHIE/ANA RIOT: Police and private security guards battled with students who barricaded themselves in a CPUT residence. They threw mattresses onto a fire and bottles at police, guards and mthe edia. They also disrupted exams.