Three CPUT buildings torched
THREE buildings at three of CPUT’s campuses were set alight by protesters in the last two days.
At CPUT’s Cape Town campus, a lecture room was set alight on Tuesday.
At the Mowbray campus, a staff room was torched yesterday.
At the Bellville campus, a petrol bomb caused significant damage to a financial aid office on Tuesday.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said damages at the institution ran into many millions and lodging insurance claims can take many months to complete.
Kansley said the institution believed a “small minority” was responsible for the arson attacks.
“We are also aware that arsonists have set a lecture theatre alight at Cape Town campus. At this stage we are not aware of the reasons behind these attacks and police are currently combing all scenes with criminal cases to follow.”
Last week an industrial design workshop building was allegedly petrol-bombed before a car was stoned at the Cape Town campus following a protest.
At the institution’s Roeland Street building, the media department was damaged when protesters got into a disagreement with security. Students meant to write their exams a month ago were forced to write under private security supervision on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Henrietta van Niekerk said: “An arson case was reported and registered after the security personnel at CPUT (Cape Town campus) discovered that a classroom had been set alight.”
Student leader Aviwe Gwayi said the protests are “a continuation of the CPUT 4”, who were suspended for protesting and issues regarding in-sourced worker contracts.