Algoa FM News
A Nelson Mandela University student who was arrested during a protest this morning has been released on a warning and is due to appear in court on Thursday.
The arrest came after about 100 students blockaded various University entrances throughout the course of the day.
Meanwhile, there was a heavy police and private security presence patrolling the University on Wednesday.
This is after about 100 members of the student body, Sasco, first blockaded the North and South Campus entrances, before moving to the Second Avenue Campus where police took action.
“One stun grenade and one CS gas (grenade) were used to disperse the crowd. One suspect (22) was arrested on charges of contravening a court interdict,” said SAPS Captain, Sandra Janse Van Rensburg.
The students then moved to the North Campus financial aid offices before being dispersed again using stun grenades.
NMU spokesperson, Zandile Mbabela-Ngwendu, said they were not against protests, but she said this should not infringe on the rights of those who want to access campus for learning and teaching, and other operational activities.
At the centre of the protest are eight demands contained in a strongly-worded memorandum of demands.
These include; clearance SMSs to be sent allowing students to register, that the University does not evict students from residences who have no funding from residences, and an increase in the shuttle service to and from campus.
They also demand to sit in on the Management Committee meetings that will discuss these matters without the presence of the Students' Representative Council (SRC).
The protesting students have given the University 24 hours to respond to their demands.
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