At least four Rhodes University Students were arrested overnight follow clashes with police.This was the first violent flare up since the Grahamstown University reopened earlier this month in the wake of the feels must fall protests.
Mako Muzenda of the Rhodes Online newspaper Activate - says police first fired rubber bullets and tear gas at a gathering of students at around 9pm last night. Mako told AlgoaFM news there were unconfirmed reports of more students being arrested in clashes with police that went on into the early hours of this morning.
Rhodes University Vice Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela said he was deeply distressed at last night's violence in which rampaging students smashed windows and doors in the library, residences and lecture halls and overturned a vehicle. He stressed however, that the Institution remained committed to completing the 2016 academic programme and that the university was doing everything possible to ensure that the future of the current student intake was not compromised.
He said classes were continuing in a calm but tense environment with police present on campus as per a national police directive.
At NMMU in Port Elizabeth, the entrances to the North and South Campuses have been closed after police had to fire teargas and rubber bullets to disperse protesting students. The University is still hoping to resume its academic programme at these two campuses today but has advised students and staff to remain off-campus for now. Spokesperson Debbie Derry said the Missionvale and 2nd Avenue Summerstrand campuses were open.
