We want fee-free education…
‘Because SA can afford it’
THE burning down of higher education facilities is intensifying as the University of Zululand (Unizulu) saw its three storerooms and a sub-station set alight yesterday evening.
Unizulu spokesman, Gcina Nhleko, said they were alerted to the fire in the co-operatives storerooms at about 6.53pm.
“Three storerooms were completely damaged and the cause of the fire is unknown. We were also informed that the university electricity sub-station was also on fire. On inspection with electricians it was discovered that the cables were set alight,” said Nhleko.
He said the sub-station perimeter fence had been cut and the fire had started outside.
However, Nhleko said it had not been confirmed if the fire was related to the fees must fall campaign.
“Nothing has been confirmed at this stage as the investigation into the fire is still under way. Unizulu students have not protested against fees as the subject has never been raised. In fact, for this year the fees were decreased,” he said.
Provincial police spokeswoman, Captain Nqobile Gwala, said a case of arson was opened at Mtunzini police station and no arrests had been made.
Today roads around the Pietermaritzburg UKZN campus were declared “no-go zones” by police after a group of about 100 students unleashed their fury amid the Fees Must Fall protests.
Rioting students blockaded Alan Paton Avenue, King Edward Drive and Ridge Road with burning rubbish, tyres, trees as well as broken toilet cisterns, vending machines and large cement slabs from the campus buildings.
There was a heavy police presence, accompanied by fire officials and paramedics as the atmosphere became tense dur- ing the morning.
Police were forced to disperse students with rubber bullets and tear gas as defiant students, claiming police brutality, threw stones and bottles in retaliation.
One protesting student said they had vowed not to return to lectures until their demand for free education is met. “If we cannot get free education, then no one must be educated,” said the student.
University spokesman Lesiba Seshoka confirmed that incidents of intimidation and malicious damage to property were being investigated.
A number of universities, including UKZN, have had parts of their structures set alight since the start of the fees must fall campaign.
Yesterday, the situation intensified as UKZN’s Howard College campus students said they were willing to boycott classes over fee-free decolonised education. They have rejected this week’s fee increment announcement, terming it divisive and a debt trap.
Classes resumed without much disruption at the Durban campus yesterday, but there were disruptions at the Pietermaritzburg campus where a student assaulted a risk management services officer and a police officer.
Seshoka, said a case of assault and defeating the ends of justice had been opened against the student.
At Wits and UCT, the academic programme has been suspended for the week. Students marched on the streets of Braamfontein, Johannesburg, leading to the arrests of several.
There were protests at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, in Port Elizabeth, which forced the closure of the academic programme.
At UKZNs Howard College, SRC deputy president, Sunshine Myende, was only allowed 15 minutes by police to address the students and get a way forward.
“The problem is that there is a certain portion of students that are going to be left behind, those that are perceived to be rich. What is the definition of a rich person?,” she said.
Waris Asmal, president of the Howard College Debating Union, said: “It is very clear that students are not happy with the 0% fee increment. We are here for one cause, anything to appease students to keep them with large loans, and unpayable amounts of debt is not something we support as students of all races,” he said.
Asmal said South Africa could afford free higher education because it wasted billions of rands in corruption at all tiers of government and bailed out state-owned enterprises repeatedly. “It is not truthful to say there is no money for feefree education,” he said.