Official beaten up, in hospital
PROTESTING students at the University of the Western Cape yesterday tried to set fire to a residence at the Bellville campus and disrupted examinations.
According to an official statement issued by the university ‚ five students were arrested this morning.
“An attempt was made to set fire to a section of the Ruth First Residence at UWC ’ s Bellville campus. UWC ’ s fire and medical officer responded to the fire alarms set off by the protesting students at the university residences and on his arrival at the residences ‚ he was attacked and badly assaulted by the protesting group.
“The fire and medical officer has been rushed to hospital for medical attention. The five students were arrested in connection with this assault ‚’’ the statement read.
Students ‚ carrying sjamboks ‚ bricks and knobkieries ‚ hurled stones at security personnel.
At about 1.30pm yesterday, cars were streaming out of the campus as others were barred entry.
While officials indicated no examinations were disrupted ‚ students reported otherwise.
They said a group of students walked into the main hall and disrupted proceedings.
“[ Students] were tense because it ’ s exam time and they [were] already stressed. Now they have to go through barriers with men in riot gear,” a staff member said.
She said the protesters broke “many windows ” and before she left she heard stun grenades being fired.
Police spokesman Constable Noloyiso Rwexana said the five students taken into custody are between the ages of 19 and 25.
They have been arrested on charges of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm.