More than a dozen students were arrested at university campuses in the Eastern Cape following violent protests in East London, Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth Monday night
Grahamstown police arrested ten students at Rhodes University on charges of public violence, malicious damage to property and contravening a court order while at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University three students were arrested in connection with an incident on 6 Oct.
Rhodes vice-chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela, said a group of student protesters "went on the rampage" Monday night, breaking windows and doors in some residences as well as the library and lecture halls.
He said police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to bring the situation under control.
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.
"Our classes are continuing. It's very difficult, it is calm but tense but we really no other option because if we can't complete this academic year the ripple effect to next year is just too horrendous to contemplate," said Dr Mabizela.
But, third year Rhodes journalism student, Thingo Mthombeni, criticsed the police action saying they were heavy-handed in dealing with some students.
"I was on my way home with a group of friends and on the way we saw a group of students waiting for the oppi (oppidan) bus. As we went there four students got arrested and one of the females got dragged into the van and her clothes were literally being taken off. Now, as we were trying to run away from this we had to move back up campus ... because the police were coming from behind," said Mthombeni.
She said as they moved further up campus they were driven back down by more police from the other side. Mthombeni said the group then took refuge in one of the hostels.
"Police entered the building and shot at students and arrested some students. Many of them had been pepper-sprayed right in the face. There were fortunately medics (student medics) on the scene and milk was being poured into people's faces. Eventually, about 30 minutes later police said we could exit the building and go home. But, this lasted for about two to three hours," said Mthombeni.
Meanwhile, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University failed to open Tuesday as student protesters were engaged in running battles with the police from early morning.
An attempt by acting vice chancellor, Dr Sibongile Muthwa, to lead staff and those students wanting to return to campus back to class came to nought. Dr Muthwa led a procession of students and staff down to South campus but were blocked by protesting students in front of the main Embizweni building.
Discussions were held in small groups with some students demanding that those who were arrested be released before they would talk to management. After about an hour of discussions police gave students the order to disperse before they moved in with teargas, water cannon and rubber bullets.
In East London, Walter Sisulu University students took to the streets and barricaded roads with burning tyres in Southernwood Monday night.
Police also used stun grenades to disperse the students.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Sally de Beer, says more than 500 students were arrested since February.
(Pic: SAPS at NMMU on Tuesday)
