Organisations back Rhodes protesters

RHODES University may have been quiet since exams started on Friday, but the #FeesMustFall campaign is far from over after several community organisations threw their weight behind protesting students.

Talks facilitated by clergy to try to reduce tensions between protesters and management have been held this week, but without resolution.

Police were accused of using excessive force last week during clashes with students that included claims that innocent bystanders had been shot at and arrested.

At a meeting on Monday with students, community organisations and clergy, the university management claimed it was being ambushed.

Unemployed People’s Movement organiser Ayanda Kota said plans to march to the Grahamstown police station and the university with students today had been called off in a bid to resolve the campus crisis.

He said mediation by the Anglican diocese needed to be given a fair chance.

After last week’s violent clashes with police, private security guards were called in to protect buildings after arsonists set fire to a campus tennis clubhouse and attempts were made to burn other buildings.

Rhodes spokeswoman Catherine Deiner said yesterday all scheduled exams had so far been completed without disruptions.

About 300 students opted to write examinations in January.

Today, some students and concerned staff will oppose finalisation of the interim interdict which prohibits unlawful protest action, including kidnapping, assault, intimidation, disruption of lectures or the university administration. – Additional reporting by Adrienne Carlisle